James Whitehead
It looks like you’ll have to be saying his name three times as Warner Bros. CEO Michael De Luca revealed an announcement regarding the third installment should be expected “imminently”, he told Deadline.
Last year’s sequel, “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” achieved a rare feat of being a sequel, released over three decades after the original and having it turn out to be more profitable, as the 2024 release earned the company almost half a billion dollars in its theatrical run on a fairly moderate budget by today’s standards… this does usually point towards one outcome- sequel. Tim Burton spoke about the idea of a third film at the premiere of the long-awaited signal, saying that he’s open to it, but joked that he couldn’t wait 36 years again to make it.
It looks like Tim Burton won’t have to wait too long as negotiations are clearly well underway. Speaking with Deadline, WB CEO said, “The ink might not be dry on the deals yet, but imminently.” When pressed about the status of Beetlejuice three. Last year’s sequel saw the return of Michael Keaton in the titular role as well as a return for Winnona Ryder’s character, with the new addition to the cast being Ryder’s daughter played by Jenna Ortega. There’s no clear evidence about how many of the three will return for the film, but if the head of the company is already saying it’s close, then these negotiations must already be somewhat finished.
“Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice”, has been such a commercial and critical success that part of this news seems inevitable, but only a few years ago would have been mocked in suggestion. Warner Bros. feat of reanimating this 30+ year old franchise was a masterstroke that showed how to effectively market off nostalgia, whilst still reinventing the property, breathing new life into this recently dead duck. The ensemble cast of Michael Keaton, Winnona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Willem Dafoe brough so much of the enjoyment and magic that my biggest hopes for the sequel is that they can all be reunited once again.
Are you excited for a third installment? What other franchises from the 80’s would you like to see a sequel to? Let us know below and stay tuned for movie updates.
