LYON, FRANCE – OCTOBER 12: Tim Burton attends the opening ceremony during the 16th Film Festival … More
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice director Tim Burton said in a new interview that “he loves the characters” but doesn’t “necessarily see” making another Beetlejuice film.
Burton, of course, directed the blockbuster 2024 sequel 36 years after the release of the original Beetlejuice starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, bringing back the trio of stars along with his Wednesday star Jenna Ortega as the daughter of Ryder’s Lydia Deetz.
During an interview with Burton and Ortega ahead of Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2 —where it was also revealed that Netflix has renewed the show for a third season — The Hollywood Reporter asked the iconic director about Warner Bros. co-CEO Mike De Luca comment from an interview with Deadline in April where noted that development on Beetlejuice 3 was starting “imminently.”
“Really? Nobody told me Maybe I’ve been replaced,” Burton told THR, while Ortega added, “Maybe I’ve been, too. Maybe [her character] Astrid dies and goes to heaven instead [of the films’ Netherworld]. They should just take Baby Beetlejuice on tour and send him to Hawaii.”
Ortega, of course, was referring to one of the previous potential sequel ideas to the original Beetlejuice movie.
After that, Burton reiterated for THR an answer to the idea about doing another Beetlejuice movie that he gave to the press (via Deadline) at Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August 2024.
“It took 35 years to make the second one, so by that time I’ll be 105. I know those odds are not good,” Burton told THR. “I really, really enjoyed making this one, and [Warner Bros.] didn’t even really want to do it. We did it the same way I did the first one, with the actors doing improv. It was beautiful to see some of the old cast and have Jenna. But it’s like trying to re-create the Wednesday dance scene. I love the characters, but I don’t necessarily see it.”
Los Angeles, CA – January 15: Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton attend the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at … More
Jenna Ortega Wouldn’t Be Interested In Another ‘Beetlejuice’ Film Unless Tim Burton Was Directing It
In response to Tim Burton’s answer about being replaced as director for a third Beetlejuice movie, THR’s reporter, James Hibberd said to the filmmaker, “It’s tough for me to imagine you being like, ‘Let somebody else do it,’” — and it’s something that the director doesn’t like the idea of, either.
“I feel very proprietary about everything I do, even if I don’t own the characters,” Burton told THR. “When they did the [Beetlejuice Broadway musical], I got pissed.”
THR then asked Jenna Ortega whether she would consider starring in another Beetlejuice film without Burton in the director’s chair.
“Oh, I would never. I also think anybody would be really wrong to get behind that project,” Ortega told THR. “Without him involved, what is it? It is what it is because of Tim. There’s no other film you can compare Beetlejuice to. So why would you do that? That would be a tad disrespectful.”
Wednesday Season 2 arrives on Netflix with four episodes on Aug. 6, with Part 2 and four episodes debuting Sept. 3.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timlammers/2025/07/23/tim-burton-appears-doubtful-about-making-beetlejuice-3/