Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 classic Beetlejuice, directed by Burton, brings back many characters. Winona Ryder returns as Lydia Deetz. Catherine O’Hara is back as her stepmother, Delia Deetz. Michael Keaton also returns as Betelgeuse, the mischievous ghost.
However, not all characters are back. Jeffrey Jones, who played Charles Deetz, is not in the sequel. His character, Lydia's father, is killed off in a stop-motion animation scene. This is likely due to the story and Jones' real-life legal issues.
One of the biggest surprises in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the absence of Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin. They played Barbara and Adam Maitland, the first film's main characters. The sequel revisits the Maitland house in Winter River, Connecticut, and even the model town that Adam loved. Yet, the Maitlands themselves do not appear.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Reader discretion is advised.
Characters from the original movie to their status in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice features several familiar faces from the original comedy-horror film. Michael Keaton reprises his role as the title character, while Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara return as Lydia and Delia. However, Jeffrey Jones, who played Lydia’s dad, Charles, in the 1988 film, is notably absent. Similarly, let's explore all the characters from the original movie and know their current status in the 2024 sequels.
1) Jeffrey Jones as Charles Deetz
Charles Deetz’s death was hinted at in the first teaser for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The movie soon explains how he died. Charles’ plane crashes into the ocean during a bird-watching trip to South America. He survives the crash but is eaten by a shark while trying to reach the wreckage.
His death brings the Deetz women back to Winter River for his funeral. Strangely, Charles still appears in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. His headless body is seen wandering the Netherworld. He shows up a few times while his family deals with their afterlife problems. Eventually, Charles reunites with Delia when she dies from snake bites later in the movie.
2) Winona Ryder as Lydia
Lydia was interested in photography as a teen but didn't make it her career. In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, she hosts a supernatural talk show called Ghost House.
Rory, the producer, helps her run the show, which is taped in front of a live audience. Lydia interviews people dealing with hauntings. It’s no surprise she uses her gifts to connect with the dead.
However, Astrid doesn’t like her mother’s career choice; she sees Lydia as a fraud. Astrid has never seen Lydia communicate with Richard (her love interest), which makes her doubt her mom's abilities. Lydia’s fame and strange job lead to Astrid being bullied. Astrid discovers she has supernatural abilities after meeting Jeremy and visiting the afterlife.
3) Catherine O'Hara as Delia
Delia’s quirky art and sculptures were memorable parts of the original movie, and they return in the sequel. Delia never gave up on her artistic dreams. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice shows she opened an art studio in New York City. The studio has some unique and beautiful pieces made by Delia. Her sculptures are also displayed around Astrid’s school.
After Charles' death, Delia returns to Winter River and uses her art to express her grief. She covers the Deetz home in black fabric as if mourning the house itself. At one point, she even records herself screaming to capture her emotions.
4) Michael Keaton as Betelgeuse
In the original Beetlejuice, Betelgeuse was a freelance "bio-exorcist." Before that, he worked as a civil servant for Juno. In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, he is the Afterlife Call Centre Manager in the Netherworld. He got this job after all the chaos he caused in the first film. The call center is a sign of changing times, allowing ghosts to contact the afterlife without being there.
Betelgeuse has a team of shrunken-head men, including his loyal assistant, Bob. They wear bright yellow suits and take calls while Betelgeuse manages. Most men want to escape at any chance, except for Bob, who is the most faithful.
Other interesting facts about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Lydia is around 52 years old. A lot has changed since she was a moody teen in the 1988 movie. The original film didn't give her a love interest (not Beetlejuice).
The sequel shares more about Lydia’s love life. After the first movie, Lydia marries Richard, who is described as a good man, but not much is revealed about their relationship before marriage. It would have been nice to know how they met or details about their wedding. This could have added more depth since marriage is a theme in both movies. However, the sequel doesn’t give these details, which makes sense.
Richard’s fate is important to the sequel's story, and their marriage changes the Deetz family dynamic in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
A big question about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was the absence of Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis. Adam and Barbara Maitland were crucial characters in the first movie. According to ghost rules, they should still be in their home in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. It was already known that the actors wouldn’t return.
The sequel explains this by saying Adam and Barbara found a way to move on in the afterlife. The loophole is not detailed, but the movie has nods to their characters. Adam's model town appears, and Lydia speaks fondly of them. Including Adam and Barbara might have been difficult, especially since ghosts aren’t supposed to age.
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a 2024 American film that mixes dark fantasy, comedy, and horror. The movie premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on August 28, 2024. It was released in theatres overseas on September 4, 2024, and in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 6, 2024.
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