That’s Not Paranormal (Again, it kind of is…)
Nice *Bleeping* Sequel!
A few months back I did a discussion piece on why a Ghostbusters 3 may
be a bad idea. Not that I’m not excited for it, believe me – I am. It’s just
that with the boys being damn well in their 60’s or almost, they feel the need
to hand off the franchise to a new group of busters. I just don’t see it
agreeing with some fans, but oh well, time will tell…or won’t (Ghostbusters 3
has been in developmental Hell for the past two decades.)
This discussion is about the potential Beetlejuice sequel. Another
sequel that has been in developmental hell for two decades.
Sure, Beetlejuice is not on everyone’s favorite movie list, but you
can’t deny that it has some dark charm to it. In my opinion it one of Tim
Burton’s last great movies. Not that his newer movies such as Frankenweenie or
Corpse Bridge haven’t been good, but they’re in no means classics.
If you’re a regular reader of Scared Sheetless, you will know by now
that I’m a huge Beetlejuice fan. For some reason it just attracts me.
No, not just her! Although that does have a lot to do with it.
I think it’s the great blend of dark humor, spirits, and just the cool
production sets that make me love the film. But it’s mostly the ghost with the
most that is the deal breaker. Without Beetlejuice (the character), I really
don’t think the movie would have been that much of a success. And it was a
success to; it cost 15 million to make it and it made 75 million in the box
office; course these numbers could be wrong, maybe a little off, but those are
the estimates.
But is a sequel worthwhile? For many years some have speculated that a
sequel just wouldn’t do the first movie any justice. Kevin Smith, who was asked
to direct the ill-fated “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiin” sequel, said, “Didn’t we see
all we could see in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?” I don’t know
if he meant that in any disrespect to the movie or was just declaring that the
first movie was good enough that we don’t need a sequel. Not sure. But even Tim
Burton has said in the past that he doesn’t think that a Beetlejuice sequel
needs to be made.
Until now that is …
My opinion is that any movie can have a sequel if you have the right
writers. Great sequels are far and few in between, but there are some and
that’s because they had great writing. Back to the Future Part 2 is one;
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is another, and of course there is the Dark Knight
and the Dark Knight Rises. And I’m sure there are others, but I’m not much of a
movie buff so I can’t say for sure.
Last word around the net is that Beetlejuice 2 is being written by the
guys who did Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Don’t know whether to cheer or to
boo, because I have yet to see this movie. They can’t get the original
Beetlejuice writers, because they’re unfortunately deceased (Warren Skaaran and
Michael McDowell for those wondering), except for Larry Wilson, but he hasn’t
done much lately to pertain that he is interested.
Seth Grahame Smith, one of the writers of Beetlejuice 2, has stated
that it is going to be a modern day sequel. He probably clarified this due to
the fact that rumors were stirring that the sequel was in fact going to be a
prequel that was going to be like an origins movie. It would show how
Beetlejuice became to be Beetlejuice. Which wouldn’t be a bad idea, because a
character like that probably has quite a few skeletons in his closet
(Beetlejuice cartoon reference!)
Here’s what Seth had to say:
“This will be a true 26 or
27 years later sequel. What’s great is that for Beetlejuice, time means nothing
in the afterlife, but the world outside is a different story.”
Going by those words, for
some odd reason I think of the movie Blast from the Past. Remember that? With
Brendan Frasier being in a bomb shelter for twenty years or so, he comes right
out and the world isn’t a Leave It to Beaver world anymore. That’s the first
thought that comes to mind and I seriously hope that’s not what Seth is
pointing to.
I can’t speak for the rest
of the audience, but I think a great Beetlejuice sequel needs to feature Michael
Keaton as the lead role. Most would agree I’m sure, but that’s only common
knowledge. But with the “Beetlejuice rule” being that spirits can’t age, that
may leave some out of the sequel: Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis. From what I’ve
read on numerous sources, Alec and Burton didn’t get along to well and you
don’t see Alec talking about his experiences on Beetlejuice AT ALL. Genna has
gone on record saying that she would be open to doing a sequel. Do I think the
Maitlands absolutely need to be in this? Not really. They could have some sort
of explanation; i.e. they moved on.
If I was to have a choice,
the primary cast should be Beetlejuice, played by Michael Keaton, and a 20
years older Lydia, played by Winona Ryder. The great thing about these two is
that they really haven’t changed in looks in twenty years. Ryder, however,
looks a bit more mature than she did as the young and very cute goth chick, but
she can still pull the look off I’m sure.
But that leaves Jeffrey
Jones and Catherine O’ Hara, the Deetez family. Both have aged quite a bit since
the movie, but they weren’t dead in the movie anyways, so they can age, and the
rule doesn’t apply to them. Maybe a short cameo wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Unfortunately two prime
stars of Beetlejuice will not be able to be in it and that is Glenn Shaddix
(Otho Vinlock) and Sylvia Sydney (Juno the case worker). Both were great in
their roles, especially Shaddix, who unfortunately died in 2012. One fan who
met Shaddix said Glen would’ve loved to do a sequel to Beetlejuice, but I’m
sure wherever he is, he will be “Totally enchanted.” (Beetlejuice quote,
hopefully you guys are catches these!)
What would work for a sequel
though, as far as storylines are concerned?
Beetlejuice as the bad guy:
We all know that he plays
the antagonist in the movie, but I really think he was just misunderstood. I
mean, who can really say they hate him? He is a loveable character. But if they
were to make him the bad guy, what would a good scenario be for him? I had an
idea that I’ve been thumbing around in my mental theatre on Beetlejuice coming
back and stealing Lydia’s parents. Why? For payback! Lydia has to journey to
the Afterlife to save her parents.
Or
Since this a 26/27 year
later sequel, the Deetez family could have another child. In the original
screenplay, when Beetlejuice was to be made into a horror movie, the Deetez had
two kids. Lydia played a typical teenager who had a thing for metal heads and
her little sister was the one who befriended the Maitlands. Beetlejuice was actually
two people: himself and a disguise teenager by the name of Jacob Goodnight (I
think, it’s been years since I’ve read the original Beetlejuice manuscript).
Jacob and Lydia become a couple and start to do horrible things, that’s until
the little sister finds out and uses the Handbook of the Recently Deceased to
send Beetlejuice back to where he came from.
They could use this story,
but morph it a little bit. Maybe Lydia could be a paranormal investigator and
she teams up with a guy named Jacob Goodnight, disguised as Beetlejuice, they
get married and after its all said and done, Beetlejuice reveals himself. “Surprise!”
Then the sky turns black, thunder and lightning flash and bang, and the
platform they’re standing on collapses into the Earth, taking Lydia to the
Afterlife. Lydia’s little sister, who’s say probably sixteen, has to journey to
the Afterlife to save her. This is of course playing around with my other
scenario above.
Beetlejuice as the good guy:
Me and my uncle talked about
this idea at one point. What would make a really good Beetlejuice sequel and we
came up with this: a company is buying Winter River houses left and right, but
Lydia (the owner of the house now) won’t sell. However, this isn’t a move on
type of company, they’re the bad guys after all, so they’re going to do
whatever it takes to get her out. Now, Lydia can only do so much to defend
herself, but she needs help. Here’s what happens: the company tries burning her
house down, but Lydia see’s this before they can. She says the three B’s, but
nothing happens. Until the men go away screaming, maybe Beetlejuice snake form
makes a short cameo? Beetlejuice is of course reluctant to helping Lydia out
due to what happened in the first movie. But he comes to his senses,
eventually.
But what does this Seth guy
have in mind? I wish he would at least give us a little more to go by to conjure
up some interest before it is Showtime. Beetlejuice 2 has great potential, I
think. A good crowd of people want to see it and even those who complain about
Hollywood rehashes and reboots (myself included) will still go and see it and
probably love it. But they need the key people from the first one to make it
work and no CGI! Tim Burton is at his best when he actually makes the props
rather than animates it. It does look good for some movies, but movies like
this – it doesn’t work.
Time will tell, but
Beetlejuice 2 is slated for a 2014 release, which is the same for Ghostbusters
III. Will it be Ghostbusters vs. Beetlejuice at the box office? Now that’s a
movie I’d love to see.
