The horror genre has experienced something of a revival in recent years, with cult classics including Scream, The Exorcist and The Addams Family all being reimagined for contemporary audiences via sequels and spin-offs. Last spring, Warner Bros announced that a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 film Beetlejuice was in the works (aptly named Beetlejuice Beetlejuice).

The first snippet of info we got about the film was earlier this year, when Jenna Ortega, star of Netflix’s Wednesday, revealed she was taking a starring role.  “I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but I am Lydia Deetz’s daughter, so I’ll give that away,” Ortega revealed in an interview with Vanity Fair.

Played by Winona Ryder, Lydia Deetz was the character at the heart of the original Beetlejuice film. A teenage goth who can see ghosts, Lydia has more than a little in common with Wednesday Addams, the role that catapulted Ortega to global fame back in 2022.  And, in a nice full-circle moment, Wednesday was also directed by Tim Burton, who has returned to direct the Beetlejuice sequel.

Excited? Here’s everything else we know about the reprise… 

Who stars in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice? 

Fans of the original will be thrilled to learn that Michael Keaton is reprising the role of Beetlejuice himself, while Winona Ryder returns as Lydia Deetz and Jenna Ortega will take on the role of Lydia’s teenage daughter, Astrid. 

Astrid is “weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume”, Ortega said on the role, adding that her character’s relationship with Lydia will be a “very important” part of the upcoming film.

While Astrid won’t be seen “wearing pink and [being] a cheerleader”, she will want to push “against [her] mom’s history or past”, Ortega said: “Any kid who becomes a teenager wants to be removed from their parents. I think they instantly just fight whatever it is that their parent loves.”  As a result, Lydia and Astrid will “butt heads quite a bit” in the film, she continued. 

The brilliant Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek) also returns in her role as Lydia’s step-mother Delia Deetz, while new cast members will be introduced including Justin Theroux (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi), Monica Bellucci (Spectre, The Matrix), Arthur Conti (House Of The Dragon) and Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Poor Things, At Eternity’s Gate).

What is the plot of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice? 

The film will again be set in the fictional town of Winter River in Connecticut. When an unexpected family tragedy occurs, three generations of the Deetz family return home. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Watch the brand new full-length trailer below to see how the drama will unfold:

When does Beetlejuice Beetlejuice come out? 

It looks like we don’t have to wait too long to get our fix, as the film will hit UK cinemas on 6 September 2024. 

The original Beetlejuice film was a critical and commercial success, grossing US$74.7 million (£60m) from a budget of just $15 million (£12m). It followed a deceased couple who enlist a spirit named Beetlejuice to help them rid their home of its new inhabitants. 

Images: Warner Bros