Danny Elfman Is Ecstatic To Return To Beetlejuice
Danny Elfman is back to compose the score for Beetlejuice.
It’s been 35 years since Beetlejuice made its big screen debut, and we’re absolutely thrilled about the upcoming sequel that’s currently in development, according to Deadline. Not only will Michael Keaton be returning to play the titular prankster ghoul, but we’re also going to see Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara reprise their roles. But the best part about the long-awaited sequel is that Tim Burton will be directing the film, and the legendary Danny Elfman will compose the score.
For those of you who are fans of the decades-long collaboration between Tim Burton and Danny Elfman, we think it’s safe to say that you know what to expect with the Beetlejuice sequel. There’s just something magical about the way Elfman’s eclectic instrumentation bounces off the gothic visuals Burton is capable of conjuring up. Simply put, their partnership has been a match made in heaven since they first collaborated on 1985’s Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.
Based on what we know, the Beetlejuice sequel will pick up where its predecessor left off, but after a healthy amount of time has passed. Not only will Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz be all grown up, she will have a daughter who will be portrayed by Jenna Ortega. Considering how successful Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday Adams has been on her Netflix series, we’re confident she’ll bring the same energy and gothic flare she’s now known for to Beetlejuice.
Speaking of Wednesday, it’s worth noting that the Beetlejuice sequel will be written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who co-created the Netflix series and function as co-showrunners. As if this wasn’t already a match made in heaven, Tim Burton executive produces the series, and Danny Elfman composed the series score as well as the theme song. In other words, this convergence of chemistry, talent, and thematic similarities is certainly setting the Beetlejuice sequel up for resounding success.
Even though this is a Beetlejuice film for the next generation, and everybody has aged accordingly, Michael Keaton’s character will likely be the same age as he was in the original film. Though this may seem problematic, Elfman weighed in, stating that the Beetlejuice makeup is so well done and that Keaton is in such good shape for his age that he won’t look too different from the Beetlejuice that we were introduced to in 1988. Elaborating on this statement, Elfman said, “He already looked like he was 150 in the first one.”
Though much of the production is still under wraps, we do know some minor details about the Beetlejuice sequel. Beetlejuice will finally be let out of the “Netherworld Waiting Room” after being summoned back to Earth by Lydia Deetz, Markus (Johnny Depp comeback, anyone?), and Barbara Loughty (Helena Bonham Carter). And we can only hope that they have updated their magazine subscriptions in the waiting room because 35 years is a long time to sit around waiting to be reintroduced to the human realm!
It’s certainly been a long time coming for Beetlejuice sequel, but by the way it’s shaping up based on what we know, late is always better than never. So now all we have to do is wait for the cast and crew to turn on the juice and see what shakes loose!
