In an industry often enveloped by its determined march towards high-octane, high resolution, and highly digitized special effects, there arrives a jarring disruption: “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the eagerly awaited sequel to the infamous 1988 fantasy horror comedy, steadfastly eschews this well-trodden path. The mastermind behind this deliberate shift? None other than veteran actor Michael Keaton, who is reprising his eponymous role as the carnivalesque, intermittently charming ghost.
Keaton candidly shared with People his experience of returning to the whimsical world of Beetlejuice under the stewardship of director Tim Burton. “It’s the most fun I’ve had on a set in a long time. On one hand, you’d go, ‘Well, of course it’s the most fun. It looks like fun.’ As you know, it doesn’t always work like that,” the 72-year-old actor admitted with a characteristic grin.
In an age of CGI domination and rapid technological progress altering the scenery of movie-making plausibly and permanently, both Keaton and Burton took an intentional, contrarian stance. Their primary goal was to construct a sequel that exuded authenticity despite its inherently fantastical narrative. Keaton emphasized, “The one thing that [Burton] and I decided on early, early, early on from the beginning, if we ever did it again, I was totally not interested in doing something where there was too much technology. It had to feel handmade.”
And handmade it is. The universe of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a felt, physical world, brimming with tangible idiosyncrasies rather than virtual placeholders. Looking back at the making process, Keaton divulged, “What made it fun was watching somebody in the corner actually holding something up for you, to watch everybody in the shrunken head room and say, ‘Those are people under there, operating these things, trying to get it right.'”
Keaton also revealed that there had been numerous discussions around the possibility of a sequel over the years. However, the acknowledgment of the tremendous pressure to deliver a film that does justice to the original Masterpiece lent them a cautionary stance. He stated, “We thought, ‘You got to get this right. Otherwise, just don’t do it. Let’s just go on with our lives and do other things.’ So I was hesitant and cautious, and he [Burton] was probably equally as hesitant and cautious over all these years.”
Keaton’s account radiates the infectious enthusiasm that has been integral to the crafting journey of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which is scheduled to hit theaters on September 6, 2024. Their shared commitment to maintaining the film’s tangible nature, coupled with their dedication towards an authentic execution, distinguishes the sequel in the modern landscape of Hollywood.
In conclusion, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” emerges as a testament of a bygone era of cinema—yet with an approach that resonates profoundly in the present age of increasing digitalization. Keaton and Burton have not compromised on the handmade essence, the tactile experience, and the human touch intrinsic in the sequel’s production. With its blend of nostalgia, charm, and a real, uncompromising vision, their creation prompts us to question the direction of modern cinema. And as we approach the film’s release, this resounding testament remains undiluted: sometimes a return to the past can hold the keys to a richer, more engaging cinematic experience.
