Won’t Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin return? Beetlejuice 2?
Ever since Warner Bros. Pictures released the trailer for the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuicefans are digging for spoilers. Considering the original film was old enough to start a presidential campaign, we all knew the sequel was going to be different.
But both Geena Davis and the controversial Alec Baldwin were memorable central characters from the first film.
Why is there no trace of them inside? Beetlejuice sequel? Honestly, this is impossible.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis not returning because Tim Burton doesn’t want them back
Beetlejuice 1988 was an instant hit and one to remember.
While many younger millennial viewers may remember the animated series better (in which the eponymous character was more of a scoundrel best friend than an adversary), the film left its mark on pop culture. To this day, many stars remain beloved acting icons.
In the original film, Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin played a pair of ghosts. The couple frequently troubles and eventually befriends the living family who move into their home – especially daughter Lydia. Winona Ryder plays Lydia, of course.
As you can see from the trailer released by Warner Bros. Pictures on Thursday, May 23, the sequel movie is clearly a blast from the past, with many of the OG stars returning, including Catherine O’Hara and Michael Keaton serves as the titular star.
But Geena Davis is still alive and working in television and movies. Even if people ignore Alec Baldwin’s most infamous recent movie, he’s still alive and working. However, there’s no sign of them in the trailer or any other material related to the sequel.
That’s exactly what director and creator Tim Burton wanted.
“I thought this was the thing for me and I didn’t want to just check any boxes. So even though they were such an amazing and integral part of the first film, I focused on other things,” Burton said. explained in an interview before the film’s release.
Why Alec and Gina were axed from the ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel
“Sequels like this are really about time,” Burton added.
This is my charm, three generations of mother, daughter and granddaughter. And that one [would] Be at the heart of it. I personally wouldn’t have been able to make this if it was 1989 or whatever.
In the original film, Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin played Barbara and Adam Maitland respectively. Both men die at the beginning of the film and become ghosts living in the home.
When the Dietz family moved in, they first tried to scare the family away. Later, they recruit the titular Beetlejuice – a trickster demon – in hopes of driving the living out of their home.
Eventually, the two became surrogate parents to the living family’s daughter, Lydia. The famous shot of her final flight was a bit of indulgence for her ghostly friends.
Tim Burton directed that film and this one. The film apparently had enough money to add new (legendary) actors like Willem Dafoe and Danny DeVito.
Not to mention Jenna Ortega, who seems to be the one summoning Beetlejuice this time around.
Geena Davis joins ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel
Before Tim clarifies why the stars weren’t invited back, there are two popular explanations for why we won’t see Davis or Baldwin in the movie at all. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The first possibility feels personal. For example, if Alec Baldwin’s recent drama (an understatement) has studios wary of controversy.
But the second and more annoying thing is that the actor is 35 years old, which Ghost clearly shouldn’t be. Creative teams can solve this problem—e.g. Star Wars: Picard Q did it—but it was a hurdle. Michael Keaton’s character looked like a captured clown in 1988 and will look like that in 2024, so that’s not a problem for him at all.
This is where Gina comes into play.
“No, I’m not. I’m not in the remake,” Davis revealed ET When asked about the sequel.
“Oh, you were expecting this from me? Yeah, no, you know what? Because my theory is that ghosts don’t age…but I don’t,” she added with a laugh.
But you know what? That being said, even if they don’t appear in the movie, we suspect something will still happen in their stories. We’re sure their ghostly characters’ absence will be explained.
