Beetlejuice Sequel Premieres at Venice Festival

Tim Burton's long-awaited sequel 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' brings back Michael Keaton as the titular character and sees the return of Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara, joined by new cast members including Jenna Ortega. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a three-minute standing ovation, focuses on the Deetz family facing new challenges, with Lydia's daughter Astrid mistakenly getting taken to the underworld. The sequel has received mixed reviews; while praised for its fun, nostalgic elements and strong performances, especially from Keaton and Ortega, some critics felt it lacked the full impact of the original. The absence of original cast members Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin was explained by Burton, who wanted to focus on a new generational story. Burton also expressed that his motivation for the sequel was personal, not financial, and aimed to recapture his love for filmmaking.