beetlejuice tim burton danny elfman
[Photo via Warner Bros.]

‘Beetlejuice’ composer chimes in on Tim Burton sequel progress

Talk of a Beetlejuice sequel has been making the rounds for decades, first starting shortly after the original film debuted in 1988. The Tim Burton-directed film starred Michael Keaton as the titular character alongside Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis and more.

Burton has worked closely with composer Danny Elfman throughout the years including Beetlejuice, Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas and more. Now, it looks like Elfman has another update after doing us all a solid and settling that holiday movie debate.

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The last we heard, Burton shut down all hope of the sequel earlier this year. Now in a new interview with Elfman, some hope has been restored. When asked if Burton has mentioned anything about it to him, Elfman confirms he hasn’t but Keaton has.

“No, you know, oddly, he has not mentioned it to me,” Elfman begins. “A year ago, I saw Michael Keaton, and he mentioned ‘So, we’re doing Beetlejuice 2?’, and I said ‘Well, you’d know more than I do.’ And I’ve heard nothing about it since.”

While Elfman’s currents comments are more promising than Burton’s, his conversation with Keaton would fall around December 2018. If this is the case, that would be before Burton’s last comments in April 2019.

With the continued talk of Beetlejuice still continuing its back-and-forth, relive the original magic below.

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More on the Beetlejuice sequel

A Beetlejuice sequel seemed most promising in 2011. Warner Bros. signed KatzSmith Productions duo David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith, the latter of whom worked with Burton on Dark Shadows, to a first-look deal. As part of that deal, one of their first projects was supposed to be said sequel.

Star Winona Ryder first addressed the sequel in 2013, confirming it was set 27 laters after the original. She stated she was “sworn to secrecy” but that it “it sounds like it might be happening.” Burton confirmed a script was in the works in December 2014, saying, “It’s probably closer than ever and I’d love to work with [Michael Keaton] again.”

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At the beginning of 2015, Grahame-Smith confirmed Ryder would be returning with plans to begin shooting at year’s end after Burton wrapped on Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children. Ryder chimed in a few weeks later, stating, “As far as I know, it’s gonna’ happen.” The actress promised it was really real that summer on Late Night With Seth Meyers.

In May 2016, Burton gave an update on production, stating he had spoken to Ryder and Keaton but it needed to be done in the “right circumstances.” He ended his comments saying “there’s nothing concrete yet” for the sequel. The following month, Ryder echoed Burton, stating, “I think it would be great if it happened; if it was the right circumstances.”

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In 2017, Mike Vukadinovich (Kidding, Runaways) signed on to rewrite the script. Little information followed until earlier this year. When USA Today questioned Burton on the progress of the sequel and what was going on with it, he reportedly “mumbled, ‘Nothing, nothing.’” When asked directly if it was going to happen, Burton states, “I don’t know. I doubt it,” before changing the subject.

While the sequel is still up in the air, Beetlejuice Broadway is currently showing at Winter Garden Theater with Alex Brightman (School Of Rock, Matilda the Musical) and Sophia Anne Caruso as Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz respectively.

The cast recently hit the streets of New York for the Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade, which you can see below. Grab your own tickets here.

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Do you hope the Beetlejuice sequel gets made? Sound off in the comments below.

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