10 Huge Movie Returns Nobody Ever Expected (THAT ARE FINALLY HAPPENING!)

A Beetlejuice sequel had been in the works since all the way back in 1990, with the success of Tim Burton's first horror comedy leading to the director asking Jonathan Gems to write a follow-up that ultimately became known as Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian.

That idea never really got past the writing stage, however. And despite a sequel again apparently being in the works back in 2011, Betelgeuse himself Michael Keaton provided a rather disappointing update a few years later as he confessed (via USA Today) that he doubted a second Beetlejuice would ever happen.

So, this long-awaited return of one of the most iconic characters ever brought to (after)life by Burton seemed to be dead in the water.

But then something incredible suddenly happened earlier this year.

After it was reported in 2022 that Beetlejuice 2 was once again in development at Warner Bros. (via Deadline), it was finally made official in May 2023 that both Keaton and Burton would be returning as the titular, mischievous bio-exorcist and director, respectively (via Variety).

Winona Ryder is also set to reprise the role of Lydia Deetz, with Wednesday's Jenna Ortega playing her daughter in the spooky sequel.

"It’s the most fun I’ve had working on a movie in I can’t tell you how long," were Keaton's recent words on filming the incoming legacy follow-up (via Empire). So, it's already looking like this once-unlikely comeback will be well worth the 36-year wait.