Willem Dafoe Explains How Beetlejuice 2 Avoids Common Sequel Complaint

Summary

• Willem Dafoe promises a fulfilling follow-up to the original Beetlejuice movie, emphasizing that Beetlejuice 2 is not a money grab but a passion project.
• The cast and crew of Beetlejuice 2 are fully invested in the sequel, ensuring that the spirit of the original film remains intact.
• Dafoe adds that he enjoyed working with director Tim Burton and believes the sequel will be good.

Willem Dafoe promises Beetlejuice 2 will deliver a story that is a fulfilling follow-up to the 1988 movie. Tim Burton returns to direct the sequel to his horror comedy, which followed Michael Keaton’s titular sleazy bio-exorcist after a young recently deceased couple called upon him to push a family out of their home. Beetlejuice 2 sees Dafoe join original stars Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara alongside newcomers Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Justin Theroux.

While speaking to Deadline, Dafoe was initially hesitant to open up about his work on Beetlejuice 2 after he previously accidentally let slip some details, but then offered a thorough defense of the movie. The actor instead celebrated how much he enjoyed working on the feature, stating it was a work of passion rather than a cash grab. Check out Dafoe’s full defense below:

I’ve said far too much about it, and I’ve already said so. I haven’t talked to Tim Burton, but I think he didn’t appreciate that. It was a weak moment for me. I said a little about my character. It’s really not important until it comes out, but he was fun to work with, and I think it’ll be good. I think it’ll be a lot of fun. Because the spirit of it was very good. It’s very much there. It’s not a money grab. The feeling’s still there. And, of course, a lot of the same people came back. And they were there — they were really there in a full way.

Could Beetlejuice 2 Have A Focus On Family?

While Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis’ undead couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland, won’t return for Beetlejuice 2, there is still a noticeable theme building among the known details about the movie. Alongside the returns of Ryder as an older Lydia Deetz and O’Hara as her stepmother Delia, Ortega plays Lydia’s daughter, Astrid. With the cast spotted filming some kind of funeral scene, part of the story could surround the Deetz family coming together in the wake of a tragedy, potentially explaining Charles’ (Jeffrey Jones) absence.

Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that Betelgeuse’s family has surprisingly grown, with Bellucci playing his wife. Bellucci’s character could either be a spirit he met on the other side, or someone living who he tricked into marrying to enter the mortal realm, as he nearly did with Lydia, leading to Dafoe’s undead detective pursuing him. While the circumstances of the demon’s marriage are unknown, it is clear that Beetlejuice 2 may tackle moments that change an individual’s life, be they living or dead, and how people’s connections can help them through.

Legacy sequels have become a popular trend, as various late 20th-century franchises have made successful and unsuccessful returns to the big screen throughout the last decade. With such a prevalent movement, audience skepticism around potential cash grabs is not only more commonplace, but understandable. However, with Dafoe firmly defending Beetlejuice 2 from such accusations, viewers may have hope for Burton’s return to what lies beyond.

Beetlejuice 2 is slated to release on September 6.

Source: Deadline