Heads of Warner Bros. have given a soft confirmation that Beetlejuice 3 is in the works. The legacy sequel to the 1988 Tim Burton film, which stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Jenna Ortega, among others, garnered generally positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $451 million. Kicking off with the dark death of Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones), Lydia returns to Winter River with her daughter Astrid, and before long, the тιтular demon’s name is said thrice and chaos ensues.

Speaking with ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, WB CEOs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy have revealed that Beetlejuice 3 is in development. The former says that the initial stages to the threequel should start soon, but that “the ink might not be dry on the deals yet.” Abdy added updates and shared excitement for other projects, including a new Matrix penned by Drew Goddard and Amblin and Chris Columbus’ joint efforts in new installments for the Gremlins and Goonies franchises. Read their full comments below:

ᴅᴇᴀᴅLINE: I mentioned getting a new version of The Bodyguard underway. Are you already developing sequels for both Minecraft and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

DE LUCA: Imminently. The ink might not be dry on the deals yet, but imminently.

ABDY: Adding to things we’re excited about, Andy Serkis doing the Gollum film, Drew Goddard writing a new Matrix. We’re super excited about Amblin developing with Chris Columbus, new entries in the Gremlins and Goonies franchises. We just had a dynamite check-in with Philippa Boyens on Gollum, and I think we’re about to get that script in May. Cat in the Hat and the second Dr. Seuss adaptation Jon M. Chu is co-directing … there’s really great stuff on the horizon.

What This Means For Beetlejuice 3

Warner Bros. Has Acknowledged Its Commercial Success

While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s reviews weren’t quite as strong as the original, with the sequel holding a 75% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a Popcornmeter of 79%, compared to the original’s 83% and 82%, the film was still considered a great time at the theaters for longtime fans and newcomers. It grossed $111 million domestically in its opening weekend, exceeding WB’s expectations, which had ranged from $80-90 million, but essentially matched industry expectations, which were at about $110 million.

The legacy sequel went on to make almost $500 million at the global box office, reflecting its strong fanbase and its creative team’s ability to continue an over-three-decade-long story that was well-suited for modern audiences. The sequel’s stacked cast of new characters, like Ortega’s Astrid, Justin Theroux’s Rory, Monica Bellucci’s Delores, and Willem Dafoe’s Wolf Jackson, could have garnered more hype for the Beetlejuice sequel, though the film didn’t need it. All aside, WB’s CEOs have rightfully acknowledged the franchise potential in Beetlejuice, according to this brief but promising update.

Our Take On The Likely Beetlejuice 3

A Third Movie Is Risky, Even In Spite Of Its Financial Success

The prospect of another installment in the Beetlejuice cinematic universe is appealing, however, it’s prudent to be aware of the risks that a direct sequel poses. Fans and critics are already wary of the possibility of the franchise’s originality being diminished with Beetlejuice 3‘s development, afraid that staying too long in this franchise will make the magic fade away. While the sequel was a commercial success, its critiques of not adding to the original, stuffed narrative, overreliance on nostalgia and lack of emotional depth might be hard for some to ignore.

I don’t really agree with these critiques, as the sequel had that same idiosyncratic charm of the original, pleasing modern moviegoers who have a taste for the darkly whimsical. Some of its arcs may have felt a bit underdeveloped, but the emotional core of the story was, for the most part, satisfying. Burton’s gothic flair is also something that didn’t feel burnt out in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. As for a continuation of the franchise, perhaps a spin-off revolving around the franchise’s strongest characters besides Beetlejuice, Lydia and Astrid, or even just Astrid alone, would be an interesting direction for Beetlejuice 3.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline