Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Has ‘Stronger Story’ Than Original Movie, Says Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton says that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has a “stronger story” than Tim Burton’s original movie.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released in United States theaters in September 2024. A sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice, the film will see Keaton reprise his role as the mischievous Betelgeuse.

What did Michael Keaton say about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

Speaking with Total Film Magazine about the movie, Keaton said he believes Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has a “stronger story” than the first Beetlejuice movie. He also said that “there’s more of a connection for the audience in terms of the other characters.”

Keaton continued, “There’s things in here that I wasn’t ready for, that are beyond delightful. Instead of saying, ‘I can’t wait until this thing shows up,’ or, ‘I just want this thing called Beetlejuice to go nuts.’”

Along with Keaton, the film stars Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz, Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz, Justin Theroux as Rory, Monica Belluci as Delores, and Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson.

“I feel very confident that it will match and exceed expectations. It certainly did mine, and mine are way up there,” Ryder said. “I literally think every generation can find something in it that they’ll really appreciate.”

Theroux added, “This movie takes some very big swings. There’s the phantasmagoria and it feels slightly out of control and unhinged. It has that vibe to it. It’s clear this movie was not made by taking polls from audiences, and studio notes, and executives going, ‘Well, what’s the most satisfying act three?’ This is 100% like someone opening the front of Tim Burton’s head, and letting it dump out onto the screen. It’s a fabulous ride for exactly that reason.”

Directed by Burton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be released in United States theaters on September 6, 2024, from Warner Bros. Pictures. The original Beetlejuice movie is currently streaming on Max.

Brandon Schreur

Brandon Schreur has been writing about comics, movies, television shows, and all things pop culture for roughly five years. He's a lifelong cinephile who spends way, way too much money buying Blu-rays and trade paperbacks. You can find him on twitter at @brandonschreur.