Michael Keaton has officially decided to jump back into his grave—and then pop right back out again—as the one and only Beetlejuice in the upcoming sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” (Nope, not three times—he’s keeping it at two for safety.)
Now, before you get too excited about 72-year-old Keaton’s triumphant return, let’s address the elephant in the room: Yes, it’s been 36 years since he last played the poltergeist with a penchant for pinstripes. And yes, Keaton is fully aware that playing a character who’s supposed to be undead might be a bit more believable now.
But did you know that our favorite ghoul-for-hire only graced the screen for a whopping 17 minutes in the original flick? That’s right, less time than it takes to make a pot of coffee! And that tiny cameo? Oh, it was all part of the master plan.
“The idea was, nah, you can’t go stuffing Beetlejuice into every frame like he’s some kind of demented Jack-in-the-Box,” Keaton told GQ, probably while sipping on something much stronger than coffee. “That would just, you know, suck the life out of it—pun absolutely intended.”
In other words, Beetlejuice might be the star of your nightmares, but don’t expect him to hog the spotlight. Keaton explained that in the new movie, Beetlejuice isn’t exactly running the show. Instead, he’s more like that weird relative who shows up at your family gatherings—never invited, always causing chaos, and somehow still everyone’s favorite. “He’s part of the chaos, not the cause of it,” Keaton elaborated, likely gesturing wildly because, you know, drama.
But wait, there’s more! Keaton had another non-negotiable demand before he agreed to don that wild hair and moldy suit again: Beetlejuice must remain the absolute “sicko” we know and love—no 2024 makeover for this ghost with the most.
“He’s not really a guy, not really a gal, more like… a thing. Yeah, let’s go with that,” Keaton mused. And before you start thinking he’s all about political correctness, Keaton quickly squashed that idea. “I mean, he’s got that ridiculous male energy, the kind that makes you want to both laugh and cringe simultaneously. And that? That’s staying. No updates. No reboots. Just pure, unadulterated Beetlejuice madness.”
Michael Keaton is back, Beetlejuice is still a chaotic mess, and the world is just a little bit weirder for it. Get ready, because this ghost is about to bust back into your lives—whether you say his name or not.
