During a discussion about the much-anticipated Beetlejuice sequel with GQ this week, Michael Keaton noted that his title character would not be conforming to modern expectations, as the original was done in a different era back in the ‘80s. In summary, fans can expect Beetlejuice not to be politically correct.
The 72-year-old noted that Beetlejuice will remain the “debauched sicko” he was back then, adding that there is not much change to be made to the character anyway. Unlike most show revivals today modifying plots for acceptance, Beetlejuice 2 will maintain its authenticity as it debuts in theaters this fall.
Addressing Beetlejuice’s pronouns
Per the topic of gender appropriation, Keaton clarified that Beetlejuice is an “it” not because of the need for correct pronoun assignment but because he is truly more of a thing than a person. He explained that the character was more of a force but admitted to the obvious male energy it portrayed.
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Keaton had just as much fun filming the upcoming sequel as he did making 1988’s Beetlejuice, and he cannot wait for fans to enjoy the final results. He revealed that director Tim Burton ensured that older special effect methods were employed over CGI and recent technology as the latter is not so enjoyable.
Keaton discusses his screen time on ‘Beetlejuice 2’
Beetlejuice had a total of 17 minutes of screen time in the original, and one of Keaton’s conditions for reprising his role was for his character to maintain a brief presence in the movie. Although Keaton gets a bit more minutes in this sequel, his character does not steer the plot as much this time.
According to Keaton, his character is more a crucial part of the storyline than the focus. Fans look forward to seeing new faces like Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux and Monica Belluci join Keaton and his old-time castmates Catherine O’Hara and Wynonna Ryder.
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