Producers Want Michael Keaton To Reprise Role In ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel

In early September, there was some buzz about a potential sequel/reboot to the 1988 horror-comedy “Beetlejuice.” Writer Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) was tasked with working on the script. And although the script isn’t written yet, we recently learned in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that he and co-producer David Katzenberg are interested in making it a honest-to-goodness sequel. More interestingly, Grahame-Smith has pretty much stated that he won’t make the movie if Michael Keaton doesn’t return to reprise the role.

“[T]he star of the movie has to be Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, and it’s a true continuation 26 years later… Not just throwing him in as a cameo going, ‘Hey, it’s me. I endorse this movie.’”

This of course doesn’t mean that Keaton will reprise his iconic role as Beetlejuice as the project is in early developments and we’re merely discussing a wish-list made up by Grahame-Smith. Personally, I don’t see any reason for Keaton to turn down the role. It’s not like he’s doing much these days and with remakes and sequels all the rage, it’d be career suicide not to.

The original film was deemed a financial and critical success, having grossed $73.7 million from a budget of $13 million. The film even spawned a popular animated television series produced by Burton.

Source: EW