“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” Brings the Ghostly Fun Back to the Big Screen—But Without Geoffrey Jones
Spoilers ahead
Fans of Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” have waited over 35 years for a sequel, and the wait is finally over with the release of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”. The original 1988 film became a cult classic, featuring Michael Keaton as the titular mischievous ghost and Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, a goth teen who becomes embroiled in supernatural chaos. The movie was beloved for its mix of dark humor, quirky characters, and Burton’s signature gothic style.
In “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, Burton brings back iconic characters like Keaton’s Beetlejuice and Ryder’s Lydia, while introducing new faces, including Jenna Ortega, who plays Lydia’s teenage daughter, Astrid. The film continues the spooky fun as Lydia and Astrid accidentally reopen the portal to the afterlife, setting the stage for more chaos with the infamous ghost.
So far, the sequel has made a strong showing at the box office. In just a few days, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has earned $145.4 million worldwide, with $110 million domestically and another $35.4 million internationally, proving that nostalgia combined with new talent is a winning combination
One notable absence from the sequel is Geoffrey Jones, who played Lydia’s father, Charles Deetz, in the original film. Jones did not return due to his legal troubles. In 2002, Jones was convicted of child exploitation charges and has since been required to register as a sex offender. His criminal record has severely impacted his acting career, and the Beetlejuice sequel chose to distance itself from the controversy
In the film, Jones’ character is written out with a darkly humorous twist: Charles Deetz is revealed to have died in a bizarre shark attack while bird-watching, a fittingly quirky send-off in Tim Burton’s macabre universe
With Burton’s signature style, nostalgic callbacks, and a new generation of characters, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is proving to be a hit, even without one of its original stars.
