The vast majority of sequels arrive within a reasonable timeframe after the first movie, and not–for example–36 years after the original movie like Beetlejuice and its appropriately titled follow-up, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. But as we’ve gone over before, Beetlejuice 2 had a very long and strange stint in development hell. And while we’ll always regret the fact that Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian will never happen, we’re happy to see Michael Keaton back in his iconic role in the new trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
While the Beetlejuice animated series re-envisioned the title character as the best friend of Lydia Deetz, the original character portrayed by Winona Ryder in the two live-action films has a very different relationship with Beetlejuice. Lydia is older now, as well as justifiably wary and a little bit afraid of the mischievous ghoul who tried to make her his bride when she was just a teenager. It was all a part of Beetlejuice’s plot to escape from the afterlife. And now, Lydia’s own teenage daughter, Astrid Deetz, has inadvertently paved the way for his return.
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is playing Astrid in the film, and her starring role on that show seems to have led this film’s creation. Wednesday showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar wrote the script, which persuaded Tim Burton to return and helm the film. Burton also directed multiple episodes of Wednesday’s first season on Netflix.
The latest trailer offers a few glimpses of the new characters, including Beetlejuice’s wife (Monica Bellucci) and Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe). But some things remain the same, like Beetlejuice’s chaotic energy, and the fact that the sand worms are dangerous to both the living and the dead.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will haunt theaters on September 6.
