Despite the development of Beetlejuice 3 having already started, Tim Burton had a shocking response to the news about the film’s production status. Tim Burton is the mastermind behind the Beetlejuice franchise, with him returning to direct 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. However, the status of Beetlejuice 3 seems to be a mystery to the director based on his recent comments.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Tim Burton responded to the news that producer Mike De Luca had announced that Beetlejuice 3 was in development by saying, “Really? Nobody told me.” Burton then followed it up by stating that “Maybe I’ve been replaced,” acknowledging this possibility since Warner Bros. owns the Beetlejuice franchise, not Burton.

Burton went on to say that “I really, really enjoyed making this one, and [Warner Bros.] didn’t even really want to do it.” However, he seems less certain about a third film, stating, “it’s like trying to re-create the Wednesday dance scene. I love the characters, but I don’t necessarily see it.” Burton feels “very proprietary about everything I do,” with him even saying “When they did the [Beetlejuice Broadway musical], I got pissed.” Here is the full excerpt:

In April, Mike De Luca said development on Beetlejuice 3 is starting “imminently.”

BURTON Really? Nobody told me. Maybe I’ve been replaced.

ORTEGA Maybe I’ve been, too. Maybe [her character] Astrid dies and goes to heaven instead [of the films’ Netherworld]. They should just take Baby Beetlejuice on tour and send him to Hawaii.

BURTON It took 35 years to make the second one, so by that time I’ll be 105. I know those odds are not good. I really, really enjoyed making this one, and [Warner Bros.] didn’t even really want to do it. We did it the same way I did the first one, with the actors doing improv. It was beautiful to see some of the old cast and have Jenna. But it’s like trying to re-create the Wednesday dance scene. I love the characters, but I don’t necessarily see it.

BURTON No. I feel very proprietary about everything I do, even if I don’t own the characters. When they did the [Beetlejuice Broadway musical], I got pissed.

And Jenna, if they said, “We want Beetlejuice 3, but Tim is not directing it …“

ORTEGA Oh, I would never. I also think anybody would be really wrong to get behind that project. Without him involved, what is it? It is what it is because of Tim. There’s no other film you can compare Beetlejuice to. So why would you do that? That would be a tad disrespectful.

What Tim Burton’s Comments Mean For Beetlejuice 3

Will The Sequel Happen Without Him?

Based on what Tim Burton is saying, it seems that he is not involved in the development of Beetlejuice 3. Considering that Warner Bros. waited for him to return before doing Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it would be shocking for him to be excluded from a third film. The only possibility would be if he didn’t want to do a third film, but his comments here make it seem as if he wasn’t even aware that one was in the works.

Interestingly, Jenna Ortega’s comments imply that she wouldn’t return without Burton, saying “I would never.” This is an interesting statement, as it would be hard to write her out of a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sequel. Jenna Ortega was one of the biggest additions to the second film, and a third Beetlejuice can’t be done without her.

Our Take On Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 3 Comments

Beetlejuice Doesn’t Work Without Burton

Doing a third Beetlejuice without Tim Burton is a horrible idea, and the fact that he isn’t in the loop about the third film is a bad sign for Beetlejuice 3. Tim Burton’s signature style is what makes Beetlejuice great, and without his sense of direction, production design, and comedy, there isn’t much of a point in returning to the franchise again.

However, thanks to the box office success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Warner Bros. has an incentive to make Beetlejuice 3, with or without Burton. Burton doesn’t seem too H๏τ on the idea of a Beetlejuice 3, possibly explaining why Warner Bros. would do the sequel without him.