Beetlejuice 2 New Details Revealed

Say his name three times and he will appear—but this time around it only takes two for the return of Tim Burton’s iconic horror character Beetlejuice.

Ever since the first Beetlejuice premiered in theaters in 1988, the film has become a cult classic. From the wildly vibrant creative mind of director Tim Burton, the film has achieved global success that is still evident to this day, from musicals to appearances at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Fast forward to the present day, not only is there going to be a sequel premiering later this year, but Warner Brothers has just announced an official release date for the sequel’s trailer—May 23.

We saved a seat for you. Trailer Thursday.#Beetlejuice #Beetlejuice – Only in theaters September 6. pic.twitter.com/bj4ZMI6Xs3

— Warner Bros. Pictures (@wbpictures) May 21, 2024

First, the new teaser poster features Beetlejuice’s signature black and white suit, besides what appears to be a decomposing body. While there are no faces featured in the poster, there appears to be a man’s face pressed up against glass, or is his body locked up in a glass box?

Burton is known for his quirky characters and adaptations of other characters known in pop culture (such as Alice in Wonderland and Batman), but he became a pioneer for transcending those characters into a more complex, gothic iteration. With color palettes composed of dark reds, purple, green, and blacks, supernatural beings, and a weirdly twisted sense of humor, Burton has been able to establish a legacy of visually stunning gothic storytelling.

Next, let’s get into the newly released plot details for the upcoming sequel, coming almost thirty years after the first Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton returns as the titular character alongside Oscar nominee Winona Ryder and two-time Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara as Lydia, and Delia Deetz.

Returning characters also lead to the introduction of new ones, with some familiar faces you have seen on screen before. First up we have Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Arthur Conti with unknown roles in the film. But it does not stop there. Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega will be starring in the film as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid. Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe is also set to star in the film, however, his role has not been disclosed yet.

Second, three generations of the Deetz family return after an unexpected family tragedy has them returning home to Winter River. Almost thirty years later Lydia is still haunted by Beetlejuice and his presence, but her daughter Astrid only makes matters worse. Lydia’s whole world is turned upside down as Astrid uncovers a mysterious model of the town in the attic that just so happens to open a portal to the Afterlife.

After accidentally opening the portal, Astrid and the rest of the Deetz clan is faced with trouble brewing in both realms. In a race against the clock, before someone utters his name three times, Beetlejuice will be set free to cause reckless mischief and mayhem as he pleases.

This thrilling sequel to the original American fantasy horror comedy will be released only in theaters and IMAX on September 6. The film will also be released internationally on September 4, with both versions to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. You can watch the trailer for the film below.