In terms of long-discussed movies that are probably just never going to happen, Beetlejuice 2 is in pretty fierce competition with the ever-tormented The Crow remake (though people still talk about Dredd 2 sometimes, so that probably takes the cake). But as of right now, Beetlejuice is sounding the most improbable thanks to a batch of new quotes from none other than Michael Keaton.

Speaking with Variety, Keaton revealed that he know's "zero" about the long, long, long spun rumors about the possible sequel, which has been teased multiple times over the last five years in interviews with Keaton, Winona Ryder, and director Tim Burton. For what it's worth, the first time we reported on Beetlejuice 2 was back in 2010 when Keaton himself said he'd "love to do" another Beetlejuice movie "in a heartbeat...absolutely."

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Image via Warner Bros.

But time have changed, and evidently, so has Keaton's enthusiasm for the idea. On the matter of Beetlejuice 2, Keaton said, "You always hear things, that this is happening, and people seem to know more about it than I do.” He then added, “it’s possible that ship has sailed.”


“The only way to do it is to do it right,” he says. “So much of it was improvised and so much was beautifully handmade by the artist that is Tim Burton. If you can’t get close to that, you leave it alone.” (Which, to be fair, is very much in line with what Burton said when asked about the status of the sequel back in may.) Keaton continued, “There are certain movies that are like Indian burial grounds. You never ride over them."

Most telling, however, is Keaton's final quote on the matter of returning to classic films. “There are certain movies that are like Indian burial grounds. You never ride over them," he says "Bad s— happens if you cross that. You don’t touch certain things. They are sacred.” Bless you Michael Keaton, for you speak the truth.

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Image via Warner Bros.

After the last couple years, you can't blame Keaton The last year in particular has been brutal to non-Disney studio franchises (though even their massive Alice Through the Looking Glass fell prey to sequel malaise). Warcraft and Independence Day: Resurgence bombed; Star Trek Beyond, Ghostbusters, and Now You See Me 2 all underperformed, and while Jason Bourne's box office remains to be seen, it's coming up against widespread (and warranted) critical scrutiny. It's no secret that the past decade has seen an industry shift toward massive-budget, brand name tentpoles as box office-boosting movie stars become a thing of the past. But after the 2016 summer reviews and receipts are all tallied, Hollywood may have to re-strategize, moving away from seemingly fool-proof projects like Beetlejuice 2.


It's no secret that the past decade has seen an industry shift toward massive-budget, brand name tentpoles as box office-boosting movie stars become a thing of the past. But after the 2016 summer reviews and receipts are all tallied, Hollywood may have to re-strategize. At the same time, Keaton's in the midst of a career renaissance and if Stranger Things is any indication Ryder may be on the cusp of a second wind of her own. If it's every actually going to happen, now might be the time.

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