A sequel to 1988's "Beetlejuice" has been a subject of discussion since the original came out. Michael Keaton, though under the radar for many years, has kept himself busy with voice work in "Cars" and "Toy Story 3", as well as small roles in movies like "The Other Guys". A sequel to "Beetlejuice" would be the first starring role in a major film release for Keaton since 1996's "Multiplicity" (he did star in other films since, but none were considered wide, major releases).

While on a press tour, Tim Burton revealed to MTV that he has given permission to "Dark Shadows" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" writer Seth Grahame-Smith to work on a script for the "Beetlejuice" follow-up, which Burton admits he is interested in directing,

"I love that character, and Michael [Keaton] is so great in it.  I always think about how great and fun that character was, so I just said to Seth, 'If you have some idea about it, go for it, and then I'll look at it freshly.'  In the past, I tried some things, but that was way back when.  He seemed really excited about it.  I told him to try some stuff, but he hasn't come back to me yet.  Michael was so great in it.  I'm sure he'd strangely tap right back into it."

This isn't the first time someone was approached to write a script for the "Beetlejuice" sequel.  During "An Evening With Kevin Smith", Kevin Smith said that he was approached by Warner Bros. in the late 90s with the several scripts in development and he could take his choice of which he wanted the rewrite.  Smith ending up picking the writing duties for "Superman Reborn" over "Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian", saying,

"Didn't we say all we needed to say with the first 'Beetlejuice'?  Must we go tropical?"

Luckily, both "Superman Reborn" (later "Superman Lives") and "Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian" ended up being cancelled.  To see "Beetlejuice" come back as a live action movie, with Michael Keaton coming back, would be terrific.  I've been a fan of Michael Keaton all my life and he really deserves to be back in the spotlight.  And I'd like to have a recent memory of "Beetlejuice" not be the cartoon.  It wasn't terrible, just nowhere near as good as the movie.

 

 

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