Ever since the originalBeetlejuicehit theaters way back in 1988, die-hard fans have been demanding a sequel. In recent years, we’ve been getting closer than ever toBeetlejuice 2coming to fruition, with screenwriterSeth Grahame-Smithrevealing back in January that themovie sequelmay start filming by the end of this year.Michael Keatonhas long been confirmed to come back as the title character, withTim Burtonset to direct, but we haven’t heard anything definitive about his originalBeetlejuiceco-stars, such asAlec Baldwin,Geena DavisandWinona Ryder. During an appearance onLate Night with Seth Meyerslast night,Winona Ryderconfirmed that she is in fact coming back forBeetlejuice 2as Lydia Deetz.
“I think I can confirm it becauseTim Burtondid this interview. It was very hush-hush, top secret, ‘I don’t know what may happen, I don’t know,’ and then he was doing some press forBig Eyesand he did an on-camera interview and he said, ‘Oh yeah, we’re doing it and Winona’s gonna be in it.’ So can I say…? I mean if he said it. But I really don’t know much more than anybody else.”
Tim Burtondid, in fact, mention last year thatWinona Ryderwill be back as Lydia Deetz, but we still don’t know when production may actually get started.Tim Burtonis currently in post-production onMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which hits theaters next March. We reported earlier this year that he signed on to direct Disney’slive action remakeof the animated classicDumbo, but it isn’t known how far along that project is in development.
It’s certainly possible that production onBeetlejuice 2could happen by the end of this year, especially sinceMichael Keatonrecently dropped out of Warner Bros.‘Kong: Skull Island. The director will work from a script bySeth Grahame-SmithandDavid Katzenberg, but there isn’t anything we know about the story quite yet. WithMichael KeatonandWinona Ryderon board, hopefully this will attract more originalBeetlejuicestars to the project.
Winona Ryderwill next be seen in the HBO mini-series Show Me a Hero, which debuts on Sunday, August 16. On the big screen, she stars inExperimenter, hitting theaters this October. Are you looking forward to the actress’ return as Lydia Deetz inBeetlejuice 2? Chime in with your thoughts after checking out her appearance onLate Night with Seth Meyers.
