Tim Burton is staying in the Jenna Ortega business, as the ‘Wednesday’ star is currently eyeing a role in “Beetlejuice 2,” TheWrap has confirmed.
The film will be the sequel to Burton’s 1988 comedy classic that also marked his first collaboration with Michael Keaton. He’s expected to direct and Keaton is likely to return as the devious poltergeist-for-hire. Budget and other logistical concerns are still being resolved, so Ortega’s role in the film isn’t a done deal just yet — but if she ends up joining, she’ll be Lydia’s daughter — Lydia is of course the goth teenager from the original film played by Winona Ryder.
If all goes according to plan the film will begin shooting in early Summer in London.
Beetlejuice confirmed Tim Burton’s hot streak in the 1980s. Coming 3 years afterr “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” it starred Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis as a recently deceased couple who as ghosts must haunt the house they lived in while alive. When the house is purchased by a pretentious, wealthy family the ghosts can’t stand, they hire Beetlejuice (Keaton,) a self-styled “bio-exorcist” with an agenda of his own. Along the way they become friends with the human family’s daughter Lydia (Ryder) and eventually learn to live in peace with the new owners.
The film also starred Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara and Glenn Shadix.
Umberto Gonzalez contributed to this report.