It’s been confirmed that Michael Keaton will be sporting his iconic black-and-white striped suit in Beetlejuice 2 – though if asked himself, the actor wouldn’t consider that look to be his character’s most memorable. Keaton will return to his role in Beetlejuice 2 as the titular Betelgeuse, with Tim Burton returning to direct. It’s been 35 years since the first Beetlejuice was released and audiences were introduced to the Maitlands and the Deetz family–and, of course, the conniving slimeball himself, Betelgeuse. The film quickly became a beloved cult classic, making the sequel a highly anticipated release. Beetlejuice 2 has been in the works for quite some time now, and the stakes are high to meet audience expectations and live up to the original.
It’s a relief, then, that costume designer and frequent Burton collaborator, Colleen Atwood, has confirmed that Keaton will, in fact, be donning his character’s iconic black-and-white striped suit in Beetlejuice 2. “Well Beetlejuice has to have a striped suit…” Atwood, who most recently worked with Burton on Wednesday, stated. “That is the quintessential Beetlejuice.” However, the man behind the suit doesn’t exactly agree that the stripes are the “quintessential Beetlejuice” look. Atwood revealed that Keaton is more partial to his finale outfit. “Strangely, it was Michael, he thinks the burgundy tux is the quintessential Beetlejuice, not the striped suit,” Atwood noted. “But the world happens to disagree with him, so it’s a funny thing.”
Michael Keaton Disagreeing On The “Quintessential Beetlejuice” Is Great News For His Sequel Return
It does seem inevitable that the striped suit would make a comeback in Beetlejuice 2. After all, as Atwood stated, it is the quintessential Beetlejuice look as far as most people are concerned. The character is heavily associated with black-and-white stripes, from Halloween costumes to fan art to promotional material. Anytime someone dresses up as the off-kilter eccentric, they’re almost guaranteed to be sporting a black-and-white striped suit (and, of course, the unruly green hair, pale white face paint and purple eye-makeup). Even the 2019 Broadway adaptation of Beetlejuice had Betelgeuse sporting a variation of the striped get-up.
However, it seems that Keaton feels his character’s burgundy wedding tuxedo at the end of the original Beetlejuice is more symbolically representative of the Betelgeuse image. Keaton’s perspective could stem from Betelgeuse’s actions while he’s wearing the burgundy tux and how they really capture the bio-exorcist’s character at its core. His moronic attitude and behavior reach their peak in this outfit, which ultimately seals his fate as he is devoured by a giant sandworm and banished back to the Neitherworld waiting room. Whatever the reason for Keaton’s point of view, it’s arguably a good thing for his return in Beetlejuice 2.
What Michael Keaton’s Vision Of Beetlejuice Means For The Character’s Beetlejuice 2 Story
Keaton’s differing opinion about Betelgeuse’s most quintessential iconography demonstrates that he seems to have a totally different view of his iconic character than everybody else. This is exactly the kind of take that the actor portraying Betelgeuse should have, given the difficult and dubious nature of the character in the original Beetlejuice. Keaton’s stance on which look best encapsulates Betelgeuse just goes to show that he is still the perfect actor to embody the role of Betelgeuse in the Beetlejuice franchise. Not only does he seem to understand the character uniquely, but that unique understanding itself proves that he has more in common with Betelgeuse than expected.
Keaton’s oppositional view also insinuates that his return to Beetlejuice 2 may not be what audiences are expecting. While Betelgeuse will no doubt be up to his same old antics in the sequel, not much else is known about what these antics entail, or how Keaton’s performance may differ from the original Beetlejuice. With little indication of what to expect from Keaton in Beetlejuice 2, Betelgeuse can remain the unpredictable nuisance fans know and love (and love to hate).
Though originally slated for release in 2024, the release of Beetlejuice 2 could be pushed to 2025 due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
