Michael Keaton Meets About Beetlejuice 2 And Is Hugely Excited
Dark Shadows writer reveals he met with Keaton last week about starring in the decades later sequel.
Michael Keaton has met with writer Seth Grahame-Smith about starring in the proposed Beetlejuice sequel which is currently in development at Warner Bros. The scribe revealed to Shock Till You Drop last night that the meeting took place only a few days ago; "It's a reality in the sense that I met with Michael Keaton last week... We talked for a couple of hours and talked about big picture stuff. It's a priority for Warner Bros. It's a priority for Tim. Right now, I am writing an animated movie for Tim based on an idea of mine. Then I adapt 'Unholy Night' . The third I am hoping is 'Beetlejuice' in terms of writing schedule."When asked about Keaton's reaction to the sequel at the meeting and how high his interest would be in reprising one of his most famous roles;
"Huge...he's been wanting to do it for 20 years and he'll talk to anybody about it who will listen. I really told him, I have a huge reverence for Tim and a huge reverence for that film in general. I don't think we should do it if we shit on the legacy. He agrees. So, right now, it remains to be seen, I have a couple of story ideas, but we're very early out."Grahame-Smith, writer of Burtons new movie Dark Shadows, pitched the idea for the unlikely sequel last year which got WB excited and previously said he would not do the film without Michael Keaton. He is currently developing his screenplay as a 26 years later follow-up to the 1988 cult favourite which put Tim Burton's career on the map, becoming one of the biggest creative forces of the 90's. He said last year;
the star of the movie has to be Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, and its a true continuation 26 years later. Not just throwing him in as a cameo going, Hey, its me. I endorse this movie. Were not there yet, because we dont have a film to present to him.So at this point it looks like Keaton is interested and wants to do the film, but what about Tim Burton? No director has yet been spoken of for the film because they simply aren't at that stage without a completed script but there is a feeling that Seth Grahame-Smith and producer David Katzenberg want Tim Burton to return to the franchise. He is already on board as a producer and sees the film as 'a priority' according to Grahame-Smith, so maybe he is thinking about directing? We had thought convincing Burton to return was no easy task as Burton is known to hate sequels and vowed to never make another one after Batman Returns (and he hasnt to date) but with Grahame-Smith being a writer he likes (he has also wrote Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter that Burton has produced for a release this summer) and a big nostalgia for what was such a milestone film in his career, maybe he is reachable for this? Keaton... Burton... Beetlejuice 2? It has never looked this close to happening in over two years.