The much-anticipated sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic, “Beetlejuice 2,” starring Jenna Ortega, is back on track after a temporary hiatus caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike. According to the latest buzz from the spooky streets of Melrose, Massachusetts, where the sequel is currently filming, it’s all treats and no tricks as the cast and crew dive back into action.
The directorial maestro himself, Tim Burton, returns to the helm, infusing his signature style into the sequel, while “Wednesday” co-creators Miles Millar and Alfred Gough weave their magic into the script. Joining the ensemble is the Netflix show’s star, Jenna Ortega, who was spotted cruising through the Halloween-adorned streets in her unmistakable purple and black striped dress.
After a nail-biting four months since the abrupt pause in production, CBS Boston spilled the beans on the film’s resurgence. The footage reveals the quaint town of Melrose transformed into a spooky spectacle, and local residents are buzzing with excitement, confirming that it’s all in the name of “Beetlejuice 2.”
The Massachusetts Film Office remains tight-lipped about the details, but with the SAG-AFTRA strike dust settled, production kicked back into gear this week. On-set sightings of Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton have fans electrified, especially after Ortega’s standout performance as Wednesday Addams on the Netflix series.
Burton, known for his executive role on “Wednesday” and his directorial contributions to the series, is back in action for his first feature film since 2019’s “Dumbo.” “Beetlejuice 2” promises to be a nostalgic yet fresh take on the original, with returning stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara reprising their iconic roles.
Little is known about the sequel’s plot, but Hollywood insiders suggest that Ortega might play Lydia’s daughter in the film. Joining the cast are heavyweights Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and Monica Bellucci, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the sequel.
The production journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, starting in Vermont in May, with a minor hiccup in July when one of the film’s iconic sculptures mysteriously vanished. Now, with Melrose as the backdrop and Hollywood strikes in the rearview mirror, Burton and his crew are making up for lost time.
Despite Burton’s earlier statement that filming was “99 percent done” before the strike, the crew is making the most of their time in Melrose. But don’t expect them to overstay their welcome; Burton hinted in July that the team wouldn’t be in town for long.
Jenna Ortega, no stranger to Massachusetts, spent considerable time filming “Finestkind” alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Foster in 2022. As audiences eagerly await the crime drama’s release on Paramount+ on December 15, the spooky sequel, “Beetlejuice 2,” is slated to hit theaters on September 6, 2024, promising a spine-tingling return to the ghostly universe crafted by Tim Burton.
