Warner Bros. has revealed the official title of Beetlejuice 2, which makes it far too tempting to avoid turning it into a trilogy. Finally arriving 36 years after the original movie, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2 is scheduled for release on September 6, 2024, just in time for the spooky atmosphere of fall. In addition to Burton returning as the director, the long-awaited sequel brings back original actors Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice), Winona Ryder (Lydia Deetz), and Catherine O’Hara (Delia Deetz), with Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe joining the franchise in new roles.
After months of anticipation, Warner Bros. has confirmed that the sequel is titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. No, this title doesn’t mean there will be two Beetlejuices. The name comes from the 1988 film’s phrase for summoning (and banishing) Michael Keaton’s titular poltergeist, offering some clever wordplay for the upcoming Tim Burton movie. While it took 35 years after the original Beetlejuice to finally get a sequel announcement, the 2024 horror-comedy’s new title suggests that Beetlejuice 3 could secretly already be in the works.
2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Title Sets Up A Third Movie To Match The Summoning Rule
Giving the sequel the title Beetlejuice Beetlejuice brilliantly teases the need for Beetlejuice 3. In order to summon the titular troublemaking ghost, Beetlejuice’s characters must utter the words “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” in succession. Various rules of the movie’s afterlife world come in threes, so it seems that the franchise itself may follow suit by turning the story into a trilogy. Saying Beetlejuice’s name only two times won’t work to expel him, so Beetlejuice 2’s official title could be a hint that Keaton’s character may not be defeated in the sequel’s ending like he was in the original film.
Beetlejuice Ending Explained – How It Sets Up Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice 2 Return
Beetlejuice’s ending leaves a lot of details unclear, but the Tim Burton horror comedy does reveal what happens to Beetlejuice, Lydia, and Barbara.
Rather, the 2024 movie could set up a final battle to get rid of him for good in a third movie aptly titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. While Tim Burton has never directed a movie trilogy before, the potential to fulfill the franchise’s summoning tease for Beetlejuice 3’s title seems too good to pass up. Of course, going ahead with Beetlejuice 3 after the title set-up would perfectly indicate the end of the franchise for good, as the summoning only works when Beetlejuice’s name is said three times – not four, not two.
Why Beetlejuice 2’s Updated Title Is A Great Sign For The Franchise’s Future
While Burton could have used the standard Beetlejuice 2 or – in the fashion of his only other sequel – Beetlejuice Returns, the filmmaker and studio intentionally opted for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Of course, in the rules of the franchise itself, saying Beetlejuice’s name two times isn’t sufficient to properly summon him. As such, the title for the 2024 sequel suggests that the potential for Beetlejuice 3, or Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, is already on Warner Bros.’ mind in order to complete the title character’s summoning.
Beetlejuice 2
Beetlejuice 2 is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
- Release Date
- September 6, 2024
- Director
- Tim Burton
- Cast
- Michael Keaton , Jenna Ortega , Winona Ryder , Monica Bellucci , Willem Dafoe , Justin Theroux , Catherine O’Hara
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
