There are a lot of good things coming in Michael Keaton’s future as a result of his revelatory performance in Birdman. He is a favorite to get best actor nominations during this award season. He is back on the Hollywood map again and most importantly, it secured the production of Beetlejuice 2.

The sequel to Beetlejuice is intriguing simply because it would be incredibly hard to mess up. The reason the first movie worked so well and sparked the imagination of so many kids and adults alike, is because it had a clear set of rules that the movie operated under. It was so clearly realized, that it is easy to imagine the world continuing after the credits rolled.

Director Tim Burton (Batman, Alice in Wonderland) has been toying with the idea of a sequel for twenty years. However things never lined up correctly. When Keaton had the star power to get the movie made in the early 90’s, they had an unworthy script featuring Beetlejuice going to Hawaii. Over recent years, several drafts have floated around Hollywood that were quality, however Keaton’s star had dimmed by that time. It seems that the stars have finally aligned and the sequel is in an aggressive stage of pre-production.

Burton recently had an interview with MTV News where he explained that the sequel is moving forward. When asked about the involvement of the breakout star of the film, Winona Ryder, Burton assured that he wanted her on board. He recently shot a music video with her in it and it rekindled nostalgia, this is what he had to say:

“I worked with [Winona Ryder], I hadn’t seen her in awhile … and she was so great. I was so happy to see her. So those kinds of elements mean something to me. Michael, and her … and that character [Beetlejuice], I just miss it, there’s some freedom about that character that I love.”

For the first time, it actually seems that there is positive movement to get the Ghost with the Most back on the silver screen. However, Keaton is currently tied up with his Birdman promotional obligations, so they haven’t formally worked out a deal. But there is no Beetlejuice without Keaton. He has a crafted a character totally unique in cinematic history. Burton seems confident that it will be happening in the near future, once Keaton’s schedule clears up. Burton succinctely explains:

“Let’s put it this way, there is only one Beetlejuice for sure. And [the script] is pretty good.”

It sounds as if we will be having something to report after the holidays in regards to the Beetlejuice sequel. How exciting is that? Comedy sequels are hard to pull off. Typically decades after the original was released. However this is a unique world deserving of exploration. The franchise was never really fully exploited or ran into the ground. So whenever Keaton puts on the white makeup, it will feel as fresh as ever. And we can’t wait.

Are you excited that the Beetlejuice sequel is on track? What are some of your favorite Beetlejuice moments?  Let us know on the comment boards and make sure to share our stories on Reddit, , and !

Source: MTV News, CinemaBlend