'Beetlejuice 2' in the works with Jenna Ortega in the cast
Fans of the classic horror comedy film Beetlejuice are in for a treat as a sequel is being developed with Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega in the cast.
According to multiple sources gathered by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, Ortega is considering to take on a role in the Tim Burton flick, which is about a couple who suddenly find themselves stuck haunting their country residence after their lives were taken by a tragic car accident.
When a new family, the Deetzes and their teen daughter Lydia, purchases their home and moves in, the deceased couple attempt to scare them away to no avail, leading them to seek the help of a mischievous ghost named Beetlejuice.
While both Warner Bros. and representatives of Ortega have yet to reveal the detail, sources told the news outlets that if the deal is set in stone, she would play the role of Lydia, who was portrayed by Winona Ryder in the original film.
The character is written to be a goth girl, which seems to be a perfect fit for Ortega, considering she recently rose to prominence playing the morbid and emotionally reserved Wednesday Addams from the Netflix show of the same name.
This would mark her second time working with acclaimed director Tim Burton, who helmed the original Beetlejuice film and who also worked as an executive producer on Wednesday and directed four of its eight episodes.
While sources shared that Michael Keaton would be returning to reprise his role as Beetlejuice, it is not known whether original stars Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jordan, and Catherine O’Hara would also be making an appearance.
Beetlejuice 2 had been in the drafts for some time now, with Burton sharing back in 2017 that the sequel is "closer than ever."
"There’s only one Beetlejuice, and that’s Michael. There is a script, and I would love to work with him again. I think there is now a better chance than ever," Burton said as he spoke with IGN. "I miss that character. There’s something that’s cathartic and amazing about it. I think it’s closer than ever."