Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice! As exciting as the notion of Beetlejuice 3 is, there’s one particular aspect of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice I hope they’ll revise in the upcoming trilogy. Tim Burton introduced us to his realm of the afterlife in 1988, and acquainted us with the infamous bio-exorcist masterfully depicted by Michael Keaton. Beetlejuice is the pinnacle of Burton’s career in filmmaking, and became an instant classic during its time of release. Burton was in talks about a Beetlejuice sequel years before it ultimately came to fruition three decades after the original. However, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice suffered one major criticism which I hope the next movie will resolve.

After reconnecting Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) with Winter River, the ever “strange and unusual” Ghost House presenter summons Beetlejuice for his help with the troublesome Jeremy Frazier (Arthur Conti) in a mutually beneficial agreement. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice broke box office records and was a huge commercial success, which resulted in executives at Warner Bros. confirming Beetlejuice 3 is in development. Now, the direction of the next film is the subject of much fan speculation and, with a rather oversaturated plot in Beetlejuice 2, I hope Burton’s next movie will simplify things and take the 1988 classics’ more straightforward approach.

Beetlejuice 2 Suffered From Using Three Different Villains

Beetlejuice 2’s Villains Didn’t Have Sufficient Scope For Exploration

One of the significant shortcomings of Burton’s long-awaited sequel is its three villains packed into a brief one-hour and 45-minute length. The trailers for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marketed the film around the trickster’s ex-wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci) but when the film hit theaters in September 2024, to the audience’s surprise, two more villains emerged. Beetlejuice doesn’t function as a villain in this story but acts more as a chaotic force, meaning Delores shares the screen with Jenna Ortega’s on-screen love interest, Jeremy, as well as Lydia’s fiancé, Rory, (Justin Theroux) to an extent.

As a result, the three characters were rather underutilized. Particularly Delores, whose screen time was minimal and had minor input in the film’s main story up until one of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s final scenes — in the midst of the demon’s marriage ceremony with Lydia. Aside from providing the setup for Beetlejuice’s backstory, Delores didn’t significantly impact the plot and could be removed without much consequence. While Jeremy and Rory serve a bigger role in the overarching narrative, the sequel faced significant criticism for its somewhat disjointed plot, which could have been better coordinated if the stories formed a greater connection.

Beetlejuice 3 Can Go Back To Its Roots

Tim Burton’s Upcoming Trilogy Should Go Back To Basics

The currently unтιтled Beetlejuice 3 offers a perfect chance to revisit the original formula and strip the story back to basics. This minimalist setup arguably suits the franchise best as it doesn’t require an overly elaborate plot. The self-contained characters are Burton’s biggest strength, and following the events of the last movie, Beetlejuice 3 will likely center around Astrid and Lydia. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice depicts Delia (Catherine O’Hara) pᴀssing into the Netherworld, and given their encounter with a sandworm at the end of the previous film, it’s likely Rory and Delores won’t return, allowing the next movie to start fresh.

In essence, there’s no need for the upcoming film to introduce a wealth of new characters. The 1988 film demonstrates that a compelling movie doesn’t necessarily need a complex plot. In fact, Beetlejuice 3 would likely thrive with only Lydia and Astrid to depend on, and it certainly wouldn’t be difficult to find a way for the bio-exorcist to intervene once more now that the family has greater ties to the Netherworld. The ending of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hints at this possibility, showing Beetlejuice haunting Lydia’s nightmare before manifesting in her bed, serving as a reminder that he’s not truly gone.

There Should Be No Doubts About The Future Of Beetlejuice

The Beetlejuice Franchise Is In Safe Hands

All that said, there should be no doubt about the direction of Beetlejuice 3. Throughout all the speculation, it’s clear that the activities and fate of these characters are safe in Burton’s hands. It’s evident from these pᴀssion projects that the director and every actor involved greatly care about the franchise, prioritizing the story over its commercial effect. This was emphasized during the promotion for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, where Burton famously explained that he opted not to rewatch his first hit in preparation for the sequel, believing it was more important to capture the original film’s spirit (via Rolling Stone.)

In addition to this, Keaton’s perspective on his character is crucial to Beetlejuice 3‘s authenticity and future success. Recognizing the value of his limited role, Keaton acknowledges that his cherished bio-exorcist’s minimal presence was more effective for Beetlejuice 2, and would better replicate the original movie. This was a key condition Keaton insisted on before signing the film contract, saying “[Burton] and I would talk, but we had a deal. I said, ‘If we ever do it, I can’t be in it [too much]… If I’m in, it may be a minute longer than I was. That’s it.” (via NBC.)

Source: Rolling Stone, NBC