Winona Ryder made a bunch of 1980s children very happy by dropping some news about a Beetlejuice return. She’s promoting her role in Experimenter, which is about the Milgrim Experiment. The cast listing confuses me because the role of young William Shatner is being played by … Kellan Lutz. (Kellan Lutz!)
Winona gave an interview to Seth Myers about how Beetlejuice 2 is coming. She doesn’t give a firm date, but she said, “I think I can confirm it because Tim Burton did this interview — like it was very hush-hush top secret — and then he was doing press for Big Eyes and he said, ‘Oh yeah, we’re doing it and Winona’s gonna be in it.’” Winona also revealed that TSA agents make her say “Beetlejuice” three times before passing through security, but “It’s obviously better than getting strip-searched or tasered.” Here’s the Seth Meyers clip:
I like that Winona has never spoken poorly of any of her past film projects. Some actors dump all over their early career entries, but Winona’s always been proud of her acting origins. She even recites Heathers lines when the movie comes on tv! Tim Burton also loves his earlier work. He did speak with MTV news about how he can’t wait to do Beetlejuice 2, but it’s a matter of scheduling. When asked if Winona was coming back, Burton said, “Oh yeah, yeah yeah yeah. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Yeah yeah, oh yeah.” He also insisted that a sequel would star Michael Keaton too. This was around the same time Burton said Keaton gave him “my most profoundly creative time.” And Johnny Dept wept into a pile of scarves.
Movie still courtesy of Warner Bros., photos courtesy of WENN
Happy Friday!!!!!!
I can’t wait!💀
This made my day😀
Love Wynona and have missed her. And yes, her and Keaton in Beetlejuice 2, yay!!
Meh. When Johnny was the highest paid actor, Burton was praising him left and right and using JD’s new found power in Hollywood to get a bunch of movies made. Now Keaton is the Oscar nominated goldenboy and so Burton is buttering him up. Classic Hollywood attitude and wishy washy alliances which says more about Burton than Depp. Plus it’s better for JD’s career to stop indulging Burton by always being in his movies, so I am happy that Burton has reconnected with an older muse.
Anyway, Winona looks lovely and I hope this is a good move for her and doesn’t end up being a flop like so many sequels of movies that really didn’t need a sequel.
Beautifully written.
Thank you.
There definitely is some butt-kissing going on. But keep in mind that there’s more than just hustling for his (Burton’s) next job. If you look at old interviews, Batman was Burton’s first big budget film to direct and the whole experience had yet to be ruined for him. He was just starting to have his career take off. Of course it’s going to be a great “creative” time.
And I think when you work with someone so often as Burton and Depp have, you just need a break. But “my most profoundly creative time” is not to be confused as a dig. Depp and Burton have said they work together almost (for want of a better word) on telepathic level. No way could Keaton compete with that, but then again, he isn’t meant to.
As for Depp indulging Burton too much…yeah, audiences probably want Depp to stay far away from the makeup and costume stuff for awhile. But the freedom of acting behind a mask of some sort has always been a theme with both of these guys. That’s (one reason) why they’re going to keep working together. It’s like blaming a dog for being a dog. (Shrugs).
You speak the truth. Also, Johnny is still one of the highest paid actors, he’s the new face of Dior and his next movie, “Black Mass” looks amazing and is playing at lots of festivals. He’s doing well for himself.
Sadly, Keaton will be covered in that Beetlejuice goop again. He is looking so fine these days. Can they have him play Beetlejuice without looking like Beetlejuice?
I know exactly what you mean, but it just wouldn’t be Beetlejuice if he wasn’t wonderfully and disgustingly and whimsically creepy looking.
Agree on Keaton. I never found him attractive during his heyday, but he has matured quite, quite well.
Too many sequesls and remakes for my taste! Beetlejuice was a cute, wierd movie, and I love, love, Michael Keaton, but does Beetlejuice really need a Beetlejuice 2?
Daaaaaay-oh….day-ay-ay-oh!
Daylight come and me wan’ go hoooooooome.
Come Mr. tallyman, tally me banana.
WINO FOREVER!
Amazing.
And boy does she look like Tina Fey in that photo with her hair pulled back
Right? I saw her on Seth Meyer’s show and she reminded me so much of Tina Fey
I can’t wait!
I love that movie! But are these sequels ever good???
*Squee* This has made my day – LOVED this movie.
And some of the work Winona did early in her career was the best she’s done (Heathers, BeetleJuice, Welcome Home Roxy Carmicheal, Little Women). I liked her in The Crucible and she was ok in Dracula (thou Gary Oldman stole that movie for me).
I have always loved her. Pretentious Portman ain’t got nothing on her for talent and personality.
I lol’d at ‘weeping into his pile of scarves’!
Love Wino. I think I may be having a bit of a Wino movie marathon this weekend; Heathers, Beetlejuice, Mermaids etc…
How Johnny Depp escaped being Beetlejuice to begin with, I’ll never know.
Beetlejuice was made when he was on 21 Jumpstreet and before he met Burton.
Because the universe had already aligned in such a way that Johnny was destined to meet Winona at a movie premiere so that they could fall in luuurrrvvvv… *cries fangirl tears* *never stops believing in the wino love*
I’m glad there doing a sequel with the original cast instead of another darn remake / reboot!
Not sure. The reason the film worked was because she played a disaffected youth not buying into the ‘keeping up with the Jones’ shiny things attitude of the Reagan Era. Who will play the open eyed rebel who can see through the BS of facades and recognize the ghosts sincere of heart? Now that we are in a time where wage gaps are so huge and obvious, who could not see it? I know they will likely have a different story-line, but the plot was what made the film so endearing to begin with, since on the surface, it was fun and silly, but underneath, it spoke to the prevailing phoniness through the culture of buy more and more and ostentatiously look rich and flaunt wealth. * See Donald Trump.
Side note: Alec Baldwin was beautiful in this film.
If Kristen Stewart was slightly younger, she would have been a perfect replacement for Winona’s old role.
Maybe they’ll get Rooney Mara since she’s suppose to be the new Winona.
Thank you for this beautiful analysis. I had never quite thought of Beetlejuice as a message for heart over consumerism. J’adore.
Mwah.
Great analysis but noooo! Kristen could never be able to replace Winona. The biggest difference was that in every one of her outcast roles Winona brought a sweetness and self deprecation that made those characters endearing. Kristen isn’t capable of that, she’s just straight up pretentious, affected, and takes herself waaaaay too seriously.
Maybe Chloe Grace Moretz…isn’t she the new young “it” girl?
@ MrsBPitt
never thought about it before but indeed Chloe could be seen a bit as the Winona of nowadays…she has that same “sweetness”. I mean that as a good thing since I really loved Winona and a find Chloe Grace Moretz also an amazing actress.
MrsB and MiniMe, totally agree about CGM. She was in Dark Shadows, another Burton film, so they’ve already worked together. And her character totally had that sullen, disaffected teenager vibe. Very Winona. I could totally see it, and now I really hope it happens. From our keyboards to Burton’s ears!
Her voice sounds funny!
Yeah I had to look up Winos’s old interviews just to make sure she didn’t always sound like a 60 year old granny. She also seems to have a problem getting her thoughts together when speaking.
Oh, that’s great news! I’m rooting for it to turn out great! I’m so tired of HW movies in the last few years:it’s always remake of a remake of a remake; stupid action with no logic/brain (Transformers?) or B. Cooper/J. Law ode. And don’t get me started on “rom-coms” and Zac Efron. Ugh.
I love Keaton and I love Ryder and Beatlejuice is legendary!
winona ryder and tim burton’s early work are all classics! of course she would never speak poorly of them. and her mid-2000’s stuff was a gift from heaven, even if they were dumb adam sandler/kevin james joints, b/c she was over in the industry. she’s nuts but i don’t think she’s stupid.
I remember she did a movie where she cheated her onscreen husband with Channing Tatum some years ago. It was a funny movie. She lost her stardom after the shoplifting scandal but she’s quite talented and it’s always a pleasure to see her acting. Winona forever!
I like Beetlejuice, but I loved Edward Scissorhands more!
Nooooo! When will Hollywood stop the remakes and sequels already and come up with new ideas? Beetlejuice was great, leave it alone.
This makes me slightly nervous, but if done well, the sequel could be phenomenal!
I just hope the plot isn’t “Lydia grows up to be a kooky, materialistic art nut like her mother, and her parents are sick so she goes to visit the old house where Charles and Lydia still live – where her melancholy, misunderstood daughter goes upstairs to find the model town, and sets Beetlejuice free. *cue Harry Belafonte* As Lydia and spawn are leaving, they… drive off the bridge. Lydia dies, joins Barbara and Adam in haunting the house, while daughter deals with Beetlejuice’s affections and harrasement, as he forces her into marriage so he can become mortal again. ”
Spoiler alert: In the end, Lydia, Barbara and Adam stop the marriage, They all haunt happily ever after.
Because, no. Do better, please!!!
I’ll bet that IS the plot of the new story! lol
As a 80’s kid this certainly made my day 😀 I love Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Tim Burton and Beetlejuice so I’m really looking forward!!
Maybe Natalie Dormer could take a look at Winona’s career to understand better the effects of both ageism and sexism in Hollywood (she was shunned by shoplifting more than any male actor ever was by drug using/domestic violence/racist episodes…).
WINONA FOREVER! Also, Johnny ‘Dept’ sounds like the accessories section at a Fading Star department store.
I love her movies from the 90s – I probably know most of the lines in Reality Bites -, I just wish she’d seem more like grown-up by now and not like a little girl who turned 43 overnight. Her mannerisms in the interview and how she uses her voice bug me – or perhaps that’s just how her voice sounds these days, I don’t know.
How is she still so gorgeous?!?! How old is she now? Amazing…
Why is Burton not praising Legend Depp for once when he’s not working with him taken as a dig? I’m sure Johnny doesn’t care what Burton says to the press. He’s Burton’s children Godfather at the end of the day.
She’s adorable and it’s so great that she is having a career resurgence.
ANYTHING to see Wynona Ryder on screen again……….
I’ve never been a fan of Winona’s acting. I almost feel bad saying that, because she does seem very sweet. But her deer-in-the-headlights, delicate-little-ingenue act got really boring after a while. Now that she’s (hopefully) matured a bit, I will happily give her a second shot at my affection.