In an interview with MTV, Michael Keaton confirmed that both he and Tim Burton are working on sequel to the 1988 comedy Beetlejuice. The original was the breakout effort for both Burton and Keaton (starring in the titular role) before they again collaborated for Batman (1989). Winona Rider may also reprise her role. Seth Grahame-Smith is working on the screenplay.
In Beetlejuice (1988), Lydia Deetz (Rider) moves into a new home with her father and step-mother only to find that the house is still haunted by the spirits of the previous owners, the Maitlands. When the Maitlands’ attempts to evict the Leetzes prove unsuccessful, they summon Beetlejuice, a professional at scaring away humans. The film was a critical and commercial success and won an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
Burton, despite being a household name and having an easily recognizable style, has struggled to find success in recent years. Reviews of Alice in Wonderland and Dark Shadows, which Seth Grahame-Smith also wrote, were mostly mixed to negative. Wonderland still proved popular with audiences, but Dark Shadows was commercial disappointment. Frankenweenie found more critical success but, based on its box office performance, failed to restore Burton’s popularity. He is currently working on a William and Margaret Keane biopic, Big Eyes, which is now in post-production and will release later this year.
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