Jenna Ortega circling important role in Beetlejuice 2

This news checks out, right? Jenna Ortega has recently exploded onto the scene with her role as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday, a Netflix show about the grim-hearted Addams Family daughter. Now, The Hollywood Reporter has it that she may have a role in Beetlejuice 2, the upcoming sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 horror comedy.

This all adds up. Beetlejuice was Tim Burton’s breakout movie; it ushered in a wave of distinctive hits that juxtaposed “creepy,” “silly,” “dramatic” and “lots of black-and-white outfits.” Tim Burton also directed Ortega in Wednesday, so sure, naturally they would reunite.

Folk have been trying to get a sequel to Beetlejuice off the ground for literally decades. The original movie is about a young goth girl named Lydia Deets (Winona Ryder) who encounters a foul-mouthed, malevolent spirit named Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton). The new movie would see Keaton and Ryder return, with Ortega playing Lydia’s daughter. Since Ortega has basically inherited Ryder’s crown as “creepy young queen of Hollywood,” it all fits. Maybe too neatly, honestly.

Jenna Ortega to play Winona Ryder’s daughter in Beetlejuice sequel?

THR says that the movie is due to start shooting in May or early June. But it also says that the budget isn’t set and it doesn’t know whether Tim Burton is attached to direct yet. It sounds a little like Warner Bros. wants a Beetlejuice sequel and is going forward whether they have a good team in place or not. Considering their recent moves with franchise, that wouldn’t surprise me.

As for Ortega, she’s red-hot right now. In addition to Wednesday, you can see her in Scream VI this weekend, as well as hosting Saturday Night Live.

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