Jenna Ortega Shares New ‘Deetz’ About Beetlejuice Sequel
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega confirmed she will portray Lydia Deetz’s daughter in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to the original 1988 cult classic.
Ortega spoke with Vanity Fair about her role as Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Winona Ryder’s iconic character, in an interview. The actress disclosed, “I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but I am Lydia Deetz’s daughter, so I’ll give that away.”
Alongside Ortega, Ryder and fellow stars Michael Keaton and Justin Theroux are to appear in the sequel, as was first announced in Variety last May. She revealed that Ryder and her will share a major story arc together on screen, explaining, “The relationship between Lydia and Astrid, my character, is very important.”
2 generations of goth queens are going to FINALLY work together on the big screen! pic.twitter.com/SNgT8bBUoj
— GoldenAgeGeek (@GoldenAgeGeeks) February 21, 2024
The sequel will explore events that take place after the ending of the first film. Ortega shared, “it’s a lot of catching up and putting the pieces together of what’s gone on in Lydia’s life since, which is nice, I think, for anybody who loves the character and is excited to see her again.”
Ortega is a fan of the original 1988 film herself, and she expressed how her love for Ryder’s character affected her experience acting in the new feature. She confessed, “For me, Lydia is the coolest ever. So then to play her daughter and also have to be like, ‘Mom…,’ and roll your eyes was definitely more challenging for me as an actor, but super fun to play.”
The actress described her character as “weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume.” When asked about Astrid’s personality, Ortega hinted, “I wouldn’t say she’s bright and sunny at all. She doesn’t go to the opposite end of the spectrum, but any kid who becomes a teenager wants to be removed from their parents. I think they instantly just fight whatever it is that their parent loves. So I think it’s a little bit of that.”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is currently in post-production, as director Tim Burton announced that the project had wrapped filming last November. Additionally, he teased the title and release date via an Instagram post on his account.
Ortega, like many fans, awaits the film with excitement. She expressed, “people need to revisit weird, strange, off-putting stories again.” Many viewers will be eager to see Burton’s eerie work return to screens this fall.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will premiere in theaters on September 6. Fans can follow the film’s official account to stay updated on future news.
