Tim Burton's long-awaited Beetlejuice Beetlejuice had its World Premiere as the opener of the 81st Venice Film Festival earlier today, with a brand new clip showcasing some more of what we're in for from the Ghost with the Most.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which hits theaters on September 6 via Warner Bros. Pictures, is the sequel to Burton's 1988 horror-comedy classic, and sees Michael Keaton once again reclaiming his starring and titular role. Winona Ryder is also back as Lydia Deetz, as well as Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz.
Joining the returning stars are new additions to the Beetlejuice-verse, including Jenna Ortega as Lydia's daughter Astrid Deetz, Willem Dafoe as afterlife cop Wolf Jackson, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux and Arthur Conti.
In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice:
“After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic, and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.
With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.”
The sequel screenplay was penned by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Wednesday), working from a story by Seth Grahame-Smith (The LEGO Batman Movie).
In today's new clip, we get an introduction to Bellucci's character, Delores, Beetlejuice's estranged ex-wife, and their doomed love story that started – rather fittingly – in a macabre cemetery.
Switching to black and white and hamming it up with an Italian dub, RedLetterMedia's Jay Bauman correctly pointed out on Twitter/X that the gloriously Gothic clip feels very reminiscent of something out of a movie by Italian maestro Mario Bava – fitting, given that Bava (and especially his 1960 horror Black Sunday) is one of Burton's favorite filmmakers.
This is a really effective and authentic-feeling Mario Bava homage. And it's in a 2024 Bettlejuice sequel. What is happening? https://t.co/nTi2VOR49e
— Jay Bauman (@JayBauman1) August 28, 2024
The vibes are impeccable, Keaton's comedy is on point and if you weren't already climbing the walls in anticipation for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, you will be after watching the below clip, courtesy of The Upcoming.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set to hit theaters on September 6. For more, be sure to check out our breakdown of Loungfly’s new Beetlejuice collection.
