Many Beetlejuice 2 fans are upset with star Michael Keaton after learning of the flimsy excuse he used to justify his reduced screen time in the sequel. After 36 years, Keaton will be sporting his iconic striped suit again as Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set to hit theaters in early September 2024. While fans are eager to reunite with original cast members like Winona Ryder and learn more about newcomers like Jenna Ortega , it’s no surprise that Keaton is the main draw for the movie, as his character Beetlejuice has been a cultural icon since 1988.
However, the actor dashed any hope of seeing him in the majority of the sequel, telling GQ Magazine, “The idea was, no, no, no, you can’t load it up with Beetlejuice, that’ll kill it. I think the Beetlejuice character doesn’t drive the story as much as he did in the first one.” He continued, “He’s more part of the storyline in this one as opposed to the first one, which is a case of, this thing comes in and drives the movie a little bit.
” Keaton was so adamant about keeping Beetlejuice relegated to as little time on the big screen as possible that he worked the demand into his deal to return for the sequel. While some may be shocked that an A-list actor like Keaton wouldn’t want to be front and center in one of his most career-defining roles, it does make sense when you revisit the first Beetlejuice. Keaton was only on screen as the “Ghost With the Most” for a total of 17 minutes of the first film’s 1 hour a.