Catherine O’Hara’s involvement as Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice 2 teases a twist that would fulfill a hope from the 1988 original movie. O’Hara starred in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice as the artsy wife of Charles Deetz, making her Lydia’s stepmother. While Beetlejuice 2 already confirmed Charles’ death, Delia will still be a pivotal figure in the sequel, which stars three generations of Deetz women, with Jenna Ortega’s Astrid joining the character list. As a frequent Tim Burton collaborator, it was likely a no-brainer for the beloved O’Hara to reprise her role as Delia, even if the arc takes on surprising twists.

In the original Beetlejuice, Delia was preoccupied with her art and renovating the Maitland home after the Deetz family relocated to Winter River. Agreeing to cash in on the notion that their home could be haunted, Delia allowed Otho to summon the ghosts of Adam and Barbara, leading to an accidental exorcism and Lydia’s summoning of Beetlejuice. The sequence was the first time anybody besides Lydia encountered spirits and beings from the Neitherworld, but a Beetlejuice 2 update has proven that it wasn’t the last time for Delia.

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Since Delia was trapped within her art sculpture, she couldn’t stop Beetlejuice’s attempt at marrying Lydia. Then, when the Maitlands saved the day, Beetlejuice was banished back to the Neitherworld, ending any chance of Delia interacting with the “trickster demon” or odd figures from the afterlife. That will change in the sequel since Beetlejuice 2’s trailer promises that Delia will find herself in the Neitherworld, and the trip features a direct interaction with Keaton’s character.

Based on Delia’s eccentric nature, the original movie missed an opportunity to see more of O’Hara interacting with the titular character. It would have been fun to witness her full reaction to him and his crude demeanor since she never seemed like the kind of person who would put up with his presence. Seeing as Delia encounters Beetlejuice directly in the sequel and ends up in the Neitherworld waiting room, the wish for O’Hara’s character to finally be immersed in more of the bizarre aspects of the Beetlejuice franchise will finally come true.

Beetlejuice 2 Could Be Hinting That Catherine O’Hara’s Character Death (& She’s Not The Only One)

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Catherine O'Hara as Delia Deetz looking to the left of the screen in Beetlejuice 2

One worrying aspect regarding Delia in Beetlejuice 2 is a subtle detail involving a close-up of the character. While in the waiting room, bloody marks can be seen on her neck, like some kind of bite. The wound could have killed Delia, explaining how she ends up in the Neitherworld next to other members of the deceased. It would be odd for Beetlejuice 2 to kill off both Charles and Delia in the same movie, but anything is possible with a franchise that heavily explores the coexistence of the living and the dead.

Interestingly, Ortega’s Astrid also ends up in the Neitherworld in Beetlejuice 2, and she, too, shows signs of being dead. While it would also be shocking for Ortega’s character to be dead in Beetlejuice 2, there could be reasonable explanations for both characters to enter the other realm. As for their appearances, perhaps the details stem from some kind of Halloween costumes. Either way, there will undoubtedly be plenty of twists in store in Tim Burton’s long-awaited follow-up.

Beetlejuice 2 movie poster

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Comedy
Supernatural

Director

Tim Burton

Release Date

September 6, 2024

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast

Michael Keaton
, Jenna Ortega
, Winona Ryder
, Monica Bellucci
, Willem Dafoe
, Justin Theroux
, Catherine O’Hara