Fans of the first Beetlejuice can be reassured that the sequel will not neglect the Maitlands, two of its central characters.
Despite Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder being commonly associated with 1988’s Beetlejuice, they are not the central characters of the film. The main focus of the plot is on Adam and Barbara Maitland (portrayed by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis), the former owners of the house that the Deetz family relocates to.
One of the main plot points in Beetlejuice is that the Maitlands are unable to leave their house for 125 years. This leads them to try and scare off the Deetzes so they can finally enjoy their afterlife in peace. Therefore, fans may have been surprised to discover that the Maitlands did not make an appearance in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
The Maitlands are the protagonists of Beetlejuice, but they won’t be back for the sequel.
According to director Tim Burton, in an interview with People Magazine, he dismisses the absence of Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis in the potential Beetlejuice sequel. He states that the canon explanation is that the Maitlands were able to leave the house through a loophole, but he does not put much emphasis on the specifics.
Burton explained, “I had no interest in simply fulfilling requirements. Despite their crucial role in the first one, I was determined to concentrate on a different aspect.”
The Deetzes and Maitlands ultimately reach a compromise and find a sense of contentment following the events of the film. Beetlejuice is ultimately sent back to the afterlife, narrowly avoiding marriage to Lydia.
However, fans have not seen the Maitlands since then. In the subsequent animated series Beetlejuice, they are both missing and the focus shifts entirely to Beetlejuice and Lydia, whose once hostile dynamic has evolved into a close friendship.
Interestingly, in an April 2024 interview, Geena Davis revealed that the decision not to include her in the Beetlejuice sequel may have been due to her having aged out of the role. She humorously added, “My theory is that ghosts don’t age… not that I have.”This information suggests that perhaps the original cast were not aware of director Tim Burton’s reasoning behind their exclusion.
“Mark your calendars for September 6, as that is when the highly anticipated premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be. In the meantime, indulge in the top-grossing movies of 2024, as well as the latest releases available for streaming this month, and the best films of 2024 thus far.”
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