"Jenna Ortega [is] the new face of horror. I absolutely love to see it, sorry."
Everybody get out your Harry Belafonte "Banana Boat (Day-O)" records!
As reported by Variety, Wednesday star Jenna Ortega has been tapped to star in Beetlejuice 2, the second time she will collaborate with director Tim Burton.
The sequel to the popular 1988 supernatural comedy starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, alongside Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, is set to hit theaters on September 6, 2024, according to the Warner Bros. announcement.
Tim frequently collaborated with actors like Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands) and Christina Ricci (Wednesday, Sleepy Hollow), so it'll be great to see Jenna have the opportunity to act alongside another iconic "goth girl" actor from the Burton universe.
Word of a Beetlejuice sequel has been floating around for several years, with Burton saying, “It’s something that I really would like to do in the right circumstances, but it’s one of those films where it has to be right,” back in 2016.
With this latest news, it looks like Jenna is certifiably the next generation of the Hollywood goth girl, and I'm excited about it.
But, the internet is having mixed reactions to the Beetlejuice 2 update:
The way Jenna is legit perfect for the role, but damn Jenna deserves a break. Going from Stuck in the Middle to You to X to Scream 5 to Wednesday to this is insane
— steven ❀ // kill bill #1 era :) (@arianaunext) May 9, 2023That’s called typecasting – doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have range. Also: doesn’t matter when they are making a living.
— Content For All (@ContentForAll) May 9, 2023Columbia Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection
With many classics getting “resequelboot” in past 10/15 yrs, the best meh & the majority, heaps of flaming dogshit, this casting alone gives me hope.
While potentially false, much of what I’ve heard & read, Ms Ortega is quite versatile on a set & w great respect for originals.
She can’t just take all the goth girl roles
— synthdaddy™ (@robtswthrayguns) May 9, 2023Winona was very mature and smart at 15, Jenna is very mature and smart at 20, so to us it's a perfect fit!
— Hollywood Horror Museum (@horrormuseum) May 10, 2023I refuse to believe that Lydia EVER would have had a kid.
— Starre Julia Vartan (@thecurioushuman) May 9, 2023Jenna Ortega the new face of horror I absolutely love to see it sorry. Like we really in good hands I fear.
— ♤ (@haworthes) May 9, 2023Legit the perfect person to play the daughter of Lydia! I know Winona is proud!
— steven ❀ // kill bill #1 era :) (@arianaunext) May 9, 2023While we're at it, let's put Jenna in a Mermaids sequel.
What do you think about Jenna Ortega being cast in Beetlejuice 2?
Let me know in the comments.