Michael Keaton revives his unforgettable Beetlejuice role in the first sneak peek for the sequel to 1988’s blockbuster, called Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Warner Bros. released the first teaser for Tim Burton’s hotly-anticipated follow-up on Thursday, starring Keaton, 72, Winona Ryder, 52, and Catherine O’Hara, 70.
The three longtime actors — all original cast members — are joined by Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe and Jenna Ortega in the forthcoming film.
Burton’s real-life girlfriend Monica Bellucci, 59, also has a role in the movie.
A Beetlejuice Beetlejuice synopsis reads: ‘After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.’
Michael Keaton revives his unforgettable Beetlejuice role in the first full trailer for the sequel to 1988’s blockbuster, called Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Warner Bros. released the first teaser for Tim Burton’s hotly-anticipated follow-up on Thursday
Director Tim Burton pictured in Spain on March 7
The summary continues, ‘With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.’
The minute-long trailer opens with an angelic, chilling, slowed-down rendition of Harry Belafonte’s 1956 tune Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) sung by a children’s choir.
A sunny scene begins with Ortega, who worked with Burton on Netflix’s Wednesday, riding a bike along a winding, rural road.
The screen then falls upon a funeral, where Winona appears cloaked in black with choppy jet black bangs and a spiky ponytail.
Ortega is also at the morbid event, as well as O’Hara, as the camera pans them one by one.
Next comes as foreboding view of Jenna’s character walking up the steps to an attic, where she uncovers the town model.
Winona’s character later wanders upon the attic to find that the white sheet that covered the miniature replicas has been lifted.
That’s when Beetlejuice emerges and announces, ‘The juice is loose,’ as thunder rumbles and the music hits its climax.
Catherine O’Hara, 70, revives her 1989 role in the long-awaited sequel
The original cast members are joined by Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe and Jenna Ortega in the forthcoming film
A Beetlejuice Beetlejuice synopsis reads: ‘After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River…’
The synopsis continues, ‘Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened’
In character, Keaton donned his signature black and white striped suit and decaying makeup, slipping seamlessly back into the role.
Burton told Entertainment Weekly that seeing the actor in character again after all this time was ‘a weird out-of-body experience.’
‘He just got back into it,’ explained the director. ‘It was kind of scary for somebody who was maybe not that overly interested in doing it.’
He continued, ‘It was such a beautiful thing for me to see all the cast, but he, sort of like demon possession, just went right back into it.’