"Wednesday" star Jenna Ortega (20) could soon be working with director Tim Burton (64) again. The actress is eyeing a role in 'Beetlejuice 2,' The Hollywood Reporter reports, citing multiple sources. Tim Burton is expected to direct again, having directed the 1988 original.
In the first part of the shrill horror comedy, Michael Keaton (71, "Birdman") took on the title role. His return is apparently already decided. Production is set to take place in London in late May or early June, but the budget hasn't been finalized, causing back and forth, the industry outlet said.
The young couple Barbara (Geena Davis, 67) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin, 64) are killed in a car accident. However, because of "bureaucratic hurdles" they do not come to the afterlife as spirits, but only have to stay in their house for 125 years. One day, however, the Deetz family of three moved in and turned everything inside out. The Maitlands try to spook the troublemakers out of the house, but fail miserably.
So they eventually call in the poltergeist and bio-exorcist Beetlejuice (Keaton) to rid their house of the living. But the supposed helper relies on cruel methods that Barbara and Adam reject. Nevertheless, at some point they depend on his help, which puts Lydia (Winona Ryder, 51), the daughter of the Deetz family, in great danger.
"Beetlejuice" grossed $80 million on a budget of $15 million in 1988 and won Best Makeup at the 1989 Oscars. The sequel has gone through various stages over the years, with multiple writers coming and going and Burton himself publicly vacillating over his own involvement. But now it could finally be time.
Should an agreement be reached, Ortega would play Lydia's daughter, who was played by Winona Ryder in the original, writes The Hollywood Reporter. And whatever Ortega touches now turns to gold. After all, with "Scream VI" she followed up on her "Wednesday" success. The slasher celebrated the best start in the more than 25-year history of the franchise: According to "Box Office Mojo", it brought in over 19.3 million US dollars (around 18 million euros) at the box office at the US start.
