Beetlejuice 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic, has reportedly concluded filming in a swift two-day session after the resolution of the actors’ strike. Director Tim Burton previously disclosed that the strike had interrupted the final days of shooting for the long-awaited sequel.
According to a report by WBZ-TV for CBS News, the conclusion of the actors’ strike prompted the retransformation of a section of Melrose into the familiar Beetlejuice 2 set used during the summer shoot. Subsequent reports included images of Jenna Ortega, one of the stars, on set filming her concluding scenes. Although there hasn’t been an official confirmation of the production wrap from Burton or the film’s cast, the director’s expressed frustration at being on the verge of completion before the strike suggests that the remaining days likely sufficed to wrap up principal photography.
Directed by Burton, Beetlejuice 2 has been in development for many years, overcoming challenges to finally materialize with a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on a story by Seth Grahame-Smith. Original cast members Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder are reprising their iconic roles, joined by Catherine O’Hara. Newcomers include Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe.
The journey to Beetlejuice 2 has been a lengthy one, with initial considerations for a sequel titled Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian in 1990, which was put on hold. In September 2011, Warner Bros. revived the project, hiring Seth Grahame-Smith, but it took another decade for the sequel to come to fruition. The story revisits the characters three decades later, falling into the trend of “legacy sequels” that revisit familiar faces from the original film.
In recent years, belated sequels with original cast members returning after decades have gained popularity, as seen in franchises like Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, Bill & Ted, The Exorcist, and the return of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Beetlejuice 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on September 6, 2024, though the impact of recent strikes on the timeline remains uncertain. Given the reliance on practical effects and the completion of filming, fans might witness the return of the beloved bio-exorcist within the next year.
