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Why Michael Keaton Didn't Do Beetlejuice 2

The Original Film's Success

The original Beetlejuice, released in 1988, was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $73 million worldwide against a production budget of $15 million. The film's dark humor and unique visuals made it a cult classic, and it remains popular today.

Keaton's Hesitation

Despite the film's success, Michael Keaton was hesitant to reprise his role as Beetlejuice in a sequel. He felt that the character had run its course and that a sequel would not be able to live up to the original.

Script Issues

In addition to his own reservations, Keaton was also unhappy with the script for Beetlejuice 2. He felt that the story was not strong enough and that the character of Beetlejuice was not developed enough.

Directorial Differences

Keaton also had creative differences with the film's director, Tim Burton. Burton wanted to make a darker and more adult-oriented sequel, while Keaton wanted to keep the tone of the original film.

Scheduling Conflicts

Finally, Keaton had scheduling conflicts that prevented him from filming Beetlejuice 2. He was committed to other projects at the time, and he was not able to clear his schedule to work on the sequel.

Legacy of Beetlejuice

Despite Keaton's absence, Beetlejuice 2 was eventually released in 1990. The film was not as successful as the original, but it did manage to find a small cult following.

Today, Beetlejuice remains a popular film, and Keaton's performance as the titular character is still considered one of his best.