The 2024 Venice Film Festival commenced with high energy and even higher praise for Tim Burton’s eagerly awaited sequel, Beetlejuice 2. The film, which premiered to an enthusiastic crowd, was met with an extraordinary three-minute standing ovation, underscoring the excitement and anticipation surrounding the project.
As reported by Variety, the audience’s applause was so extended that festival organizers had to dim the lights to bring the event to a close. This gave the cast, including Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Jenna Ortega, a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the fervent reception.
Keaton and Burton, in particular, received significant acclaim, with the actor and director taking time to sign autographs for fans. Despite the enthusiasm, Burton declined a fan’s request for a tattoo sketch, while Ortega, stunning in a red Dior gown, engaged with fans, taking selfies and mingling in the theatre lobby.
Before the screening, Ortega led a standing ovation for Sigourney Weaver, who was honored with a Golden Lion at the festival.
Beetlejuice 2 marks a return to the beloved franchise 36 years after the original film. The sequel features the return of iconic cast members Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara, alongside new additions such as Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe. The plot centers on the Deetz family discovering a portal to the afterlife, which accidentally releases the mischievous Beetlejuice once again.
The journey of Beetlejuice 2 has been long and complex, with initial scripts drafted in 1990 and various story ideas explored before Seth Grahame-Smith’s involvement in 2011. The project gained significant traction in early 2022 under the production of Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Warner Bros., leading to its highly anticipated Venice premiere.
