Has The Character Of Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice Evolved Between Two Movies? Creator Tim Burton Has THIS To Say

As a seasoned film critic with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that I am thrilled about the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel. Having witnessed the original film’s release back in 1988 and its subsequent impact on pop culture, it is fascinating to see how Tim Burton and his team are revisiting this iconic character.


Since the initial release of Beetlejuice in 1988, Michael Keaton’s portrayal of this character has become a significant part of pop culture. The upcoming sequel, titled Beetlejuice 2, is scheduled to premiere on September 6, 2024. Many fans are curious about how the character might have changed over time. In a recent chat, Tim Burton, who’s behind the franchise, discussed the character’s progression and the creative approach for the new film.

Burton mentioned that the character of Beetlejuice in the film isn’t very complex or prone to change – he is essentially who he is. However, he added that while the sequel adds new elements, the fundamental essence of Beetlejuice stays the same.

He shared that we uncover aspects of his character in this film that were not present in the initial movie, yet he remains an enigmatic figure. However, Burton appeared thrilled about revisiting the Beetlejuice universe. “I was delighted to return to this tale,” he said, “because it offered a fresh perspective and its unique set of guidelines that I found appealing.”

In creating the sequel, Burton blended respect for the past and fresh ideas. He explained how they maintained a balance between the familiar aspects from the first movie and introducing novel elements. As he put it, “We acknowledged the original film by collaborating with Bo Welch, who designed that, and I teamed up with Mark Scruton on this project, someone I had previously worked with on Wednesday.”

He mentioned that although certain parts of the sequel’s appearance resembled the initial movie, fresh components were also incorporated. “We added some more elements to it, but we weren’t keen on making it too extensive,” he said. “In fact, we constructed all the sets ourselves.”

The design for the sequel aimed to augment the universe of Beetlejuice while preserving the enchantment of the original movie. Burton mentioned that it became more elaborate, yet not overly so.

The creative team strived to preserve the unique essence of the movie by blending free-flowing creativity and impromptu performances. In his words, they embraced a casual, unscripted atmosphere, allowing everyone to shape their characters and immerse themselves in the process.

In an interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Michael Keaton shared insights into his time working on the initial production of the movie where he starred in the leading role.

He mentioned that everyone involved in the project wasn’t keeping a close eye, and the facility didn’t seem to be monitoring either. He also shared that they were filming in a compact studio located in Culver City, California, with no one looking over their work.

Keaton discussed his encounters with Tim Burton, stating that they met on multiple occasions. It was suggested to him that he should meet a youthful individual named Tim Burton, and it so happened that Keaton had an idea for a film; thus, he agreed.

Initially, Keaton doubted Burton’s vision. Upon their first encounter, Keaton admitted to being clueless about what Burton was talking about. After having three meetings with him, however, Keaton expressed his liking for this individual and acknowledged that there was something extraordinary in the works he was doing.

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2024-09-03 17:26