Tim Burton’s highly anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice, titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, has sparked extensive online discussions ever since its announcement.
After a hiatus of more than 36 years, it marks a nostalgic return to the iconic film.
The cast features Jenna Ortega in a leading role, alongside the return of Michael Keaton as the titular ghost and Winona Ryder reprising her role as Lydia Deetz, now a mother to Ortega’s character.
Additionally, Catherine O’Hara makes a comeback, while Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and Monica Bellucci join the franchise.
One actor is notably absent from the lineup – and fans have now uncovered the grim reason behind it…
The original film, debuting in 1988, still stands as a classic in the comedy-horror genre.
It clinched the Oscar for best makeup that year and raked in $80 million with just a $15 million budget, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Scheduled for release on September 6, the new sequel is already generating substantial media buzz.
“It’s been quite an insane experience. I’ve been lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with an iconic director who just so happens to be one of the sweetest directors I’ve worked with, and also the most detail-oriented,” Ortega tells The Hollywood Reporter of working with Burton.
While Keaton says on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show: “Tim and I would talk over the years about would we ever do it, and if we did it how would we do it.
“It’s just so fun and I’ve seen it now. ‘I’m going to see it again after a couple of little tweaks in the editing room, and I confidently say this thing is great.
“It’s like a piece of art, you know what I mean? It’s almost like you want to take it and put it in a museum. There’s just nothing like it’.
“To do it again was a little, I guess intimidating, and I was nervous about it.”
News of the absence of one original actor has gone viral, sparking discussions about the disturbing reason behind it…
One fan writes: “I was convinced that he had died, and I even remembered him fondly for his role in Howard the Duck, only to discover the truth today!”
“I remember when it all happened years ago. Is that whose funeral they attend in the trailer?” another asks.
Jeffrey Jones, known for his role as the dad in the original movie, will not be returning for the sequel, as confirmed.
A representative for Jones, aged 77, has verified to The Hollywood Reporter that the actor is not part of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
However, fans have noticed an Easter egg featuring Jones (as Charles Deetz) in the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailer, depicted in a photo on a grave headstone – leading to speculation that the character has met his demise in the film.
Jones is recognized for his roles such as Emperor Joseph II in 1984’s Amadeus and Ed Rooney, the principal in 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Following his appearance in Beetlejuice, he continued to feature in other Tim Burton classics, including 1994’s Ed Wood and 1999’s Sleepy Hollow.
However, Jones’ career has seen a decline since his arrest in 2003.
In 2002, Jones was arrested for possession of child p*ography and soliciting a 14-year-old boy to produce sually explicit images between September 2000 to May 2001.
The actor pleaded not guilty to the possession charge and entered a plea of no contest to hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose naked for photos, for which he was sentenced to five years probation, counselling and ordered to register as a s** offender.
Following the sentencing, Jones reportedly said: “This concludes a really painful chapter in my life. I am sorry that this incident was allowed to occur. Such an event has never happened before and it will never happen again.”
