Beetlejuice 3 has the opportunity to change a lot from the first two films but should keep one key detail the same. Beetlejuice 3 was officially confirmed last month. This comes after Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was a huge success in 2024, being released 36 years after the classic original. The film ended up grossing $452 million at the worldwide box office, making it the 13th highest-grossing movie of last year.
Though its development is confirmed, the plot of Beetlejuice 3 remains under wraps. As the story of the Deetz family continues, Tim Burton and his team will have a lot of leeway to do something new with the threequel. In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, this freshness came in the form of introducing new characters, played by Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe, among others. The third film will likely introduce new characters and return classic ones, but they should be careful with how the central character is brought back.
Michael Keaton’s Screen Time Should Be Limited In Beetlejuice 3, Just Like The First Two Movies
He Was Only In 17 Minutes Of Each Film
Given the focus of these movies, Michael Keaton’s return as the villain and тιтular character is inevitable. However, his role in this franchise has not been as central as one might think. Despite being the eponymous character, Keaton’s Beetlejuice is in only 17 minutes of each film. Beetlejuice has a 1-hour, 32-minute runtime, and its sequel runs a slightly longer 1 hour, 45 minutes, so despite having what may seem like the main role, the scheming ghost is only in a small portion of each film.
Beetlejuice’s scarcity is actually one of his best ᴀssets.
Beetlejuice’s scarcity is actually one of his best ᴀssets. The threat of summoning the mischievous poltergeist by reiterating his name is introduced early on in each movie. As such, when he finally does appear, it creates a good shock and adds to the tension and comedy of the ghoul’s appearance. His limited screen time also allows for more emphasis on the Deetz family, whose experience of grief, growing up, and familial bonds is one of the stronger dramatic aspects of the series.
Michael Keaton’s History Makes His Limited Screen Time In Beetlejuice 3 More Likely
He Made This A Condition For Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
With Beetlejuice as such a popular figure, Warner Bros. could be tempted to push Burton and his team to include the character more. After all, his elaborate costumes and over-the-top energy remain some of the most iconic elements of the films, even if he is not actually on screen for very long. As such, repeating the previous films’ gimmick with the character for Beetlejuice 3 may be easier said than done.
However, Keaton himself has said things that suggest Beetlejuice 3 will go in the right direction. In an Empire interview before the release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the actor said that he made it “ultra-clear” that he did not want to appear significantly more in the second film than he did in the original, feeling that it “would get very tiresome” if he did so. Keaton will likely set a similar return condition for the next installment, ensuring that the тιтular character will have limited screen time.
Having Michael Keaton In More Of Beetlejuice 3 Risks Hurting The Movie
Keaton Is Right About The Character Getting “Tiresome”
Keaton is spot-on with his understanding of the impact of inundating the screen with the lead character. While Beetlejuice is the most distinguishing element of the spooky comedy series, part of why he works is because of the element of surprise. This unexpectedness stems from everything from the content of what he says to his appearance itself. Over-including him could diminish this experience, making him more of an incessant bother than a treat sprinkled throughout the film.
There are other characters in need of attention that Beetlejuice could take away from. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a particularly effective family story, as it shows the grown-up version of Lydia Deetz trying to parent her teenage daughter, Astrid. Dramatically, this is as, if not more, of an important aspect of the story than any ghost or demon. In order to be an effective entry into the franchise, Beetlejuice 3 has to stay true to its roots and make sure not to over-index on Keaton’s screen time.
Source: Empire Magazine
Beetlejuice
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Tim Burton, Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson, Warren Skaaren
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Beetlejuice
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Beetlejuice
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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- First TV Show
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Beetlejuice
Summary
Beetlejuice is a dark fantasy horror-comedy franchise that began with the release of the 1988 film directed by Tim Burton. The story follows a recently deceased couple who become ghosts haunting their former home and summon Betelgeuse (pronounced “Beetlejuice”), a mischievous and devious bio-exorcist ghost, to scare away the new inhabitants. The film’s success led to an animated television series, stage musical, and a highly anticipated sequel.
