Kaylah Walton
The sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is eagerly awaited to be released in 2024, bringing back favorite characters from the 1988 classic by Tim Burton. However, Geena Davis, known for her role as Barbara Maitland in the original, will not be making a return.
Geena Davis starred as Barbara Maitland alongside Alec Baldwin, who played Adam Maitland, in the original film. They portrayed a recently deceased couple seeking help from the mischievous spirit Beetlejuice to scare away the new occupants of their home.
Despite the pivotal roles played by Davis and Baldwin in the original, they are absent in the sequel. Director Tim Burton explained the reason for not including their characters in the new movie.
In the original film, the Maitlands were confined to haunting their former home, but Beetlejuice Beetlejuice takes a different turn, allowing them to find a “loophole” to escape that situation. However, the sequel chooses to explore new and old characters, sidelining the Maitlands.
Davis, currently starring in Blink Twice, directed by Zoe Kravitz, shared her views on her character’s absence, suggesting it aligns with the sequel’s focus on a fresh chapter in the Beetlejuice story.
“No, I’m not. I’m not in the remake,” Geena told Entertainment Tonight. “Oh, you were expecting that I would be? Yeah, no, you know what? Because my theory is that ghosts don’t age … Not that I have.”
“Our characters were stuck the way they looked when they died forever, so it’s been a while, it’s been a minute.”
“I heard the trailer came out and somebody said they were crying, so I have to see the trailer.”
The Change in Focal Point
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice shifts focus to Lydia Deetz, reprised by Winona Ryder, who revisits her childhood home following her father Charles Deetz’s passing. As Lydia returns, she is joined by her daughter Astrid Deetz, played by Jenna Ortega, and her boyfriend Rory, portrayed by Justin Theroux. The film reunites Lydia with her stepmother Delia, played by Catherine O’Hara, as they experience the chaos brought about by Beetlejuice’s return.
New faces in the cast include Monica Bellucci as Delores and Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson, injecting new life into the film while preserving the eerie and comedic ambiance that defined the original.
