Update (May 9, 2023): Jenna Ortega is officially on board for Beetlejuice 2, the long-awaited sequel to the original 1988 movie starring Michael Keaton according to Variety. Ortega will play the daughter of Winona Ryder’s character, Lydia Deetz. Along with Keaton and Ryder reprising their roles, filmmaker Tim Burton is returning to direct the new film. Production is set to begin in London on May 10. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on September 6, 2024.
After working with Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd) on the hit Netflix series Wednesday, it looks like Jenna Ortega might be ready to see what the Burton cinematic world is all about.
According to multiple sources, including Deadline, Ortega is in early talks to star in Beetlejuice 2, the comedy-horror sequel to the original 1988 movie directed by Burton. Deadline’s sources tell them that Ortega would play the daughter of Winona Ryder’s character, Lydia, from the first film. Sources are also saying that Ryder and Michael Keaton, who plays the title character, are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel.
In the original Beetlejuice, Lydia and her family move into the home of a couple who recently died (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis). Unhappy that someone has purchased their house, the couple, who return as ghosts that only Lydia can see, attempt to scare the family out of their home with the help of an uncouth entity, Beetlejuice (Keaton).
Before the debut of Wednesday, Ortega told The Hollywood Reporter that it was an “insane experience” to work with Burton. “I’ve been lucky enough to get the opportunity to work with an iconic director who just so happens to be one of the sweetest directors I’ve worked with and also the most detail-oriented,” she said.
In our opinion, the only reason we could see that Ortega wouldn’t take the role is that she doesn’t want to pigeonhole herself as an actress who can only play these dark and brooding Burtonesque characters (assuming her Beetlejuice 2 character will have the same characteristics her mom did in the 1988 movie).
Then, of course, we’re talking about Beetlejuice 2, which would become a highly anticipated sequel with Keaton and Ryder reuniting. Honestly, how do you say no to a project like that? We’re all in for a scene where Jenna Ortega battles a sandworm.