Winona Ryder Praises Tim’s Burton Enthusiasm For Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set more than three decades after the events of Beetlejuice, with the Deetz family returning to Winter River. Once they are drawn back by family patriarch Charles Deetz’s unexpected death, a familiar terror returns to the Deetz home thanks to Lydia’s rebellious daughter, Astrid. When Astrid finds the mysterious model of the town and opens the portal to the Afterlife releasing Betelgeuse once again.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice boasts a powerhouse cast that includes Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Michael Keaton reprising their roles. Tim Burton helmed the long-awaited sequel from a screenplay penned by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Jenna Ortega, who Burton collaborated with on Wednesday, joins the cast alongside Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. Beetlejuice captures the nostalgia that fans of the original will love while also bringing a fresh voice to the story with Ortega as her character and Ryder’s bond as mother and daughter.

Screen Rant interviewed Winona Ryder about returning for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. She reflected on the journey to BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice and which elements needed to be included. Ryder also discussed bonding with Ortega and explained how Burton created a great environment on set both with the sequel and the original.

Winona Ryder Describes The Conditions Necessary For Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Sequel Had To “Have Michael And Catherine, And It Has To Be Tim’s Vision”

Screen Rant: Winona, what was your biggest priority when returning to the Beetlejuice universe all these years later? Was there anything that you told Tim you wanted to see Lydia do in this one?

Winona Ryder: Not really. The conversation had been going on for… I really remember it from the Frankenweenie press junket. There had been talks, and you’d hear things, but I remember him pulling me aside and saying he really wanted to do this. Then it was sort of, like, 12 or 13 years of meeting up every couple of years and brainstorming. But there was never a script, and it was always understood that it has to be perfect. It has to obviously have Michael and Catherine, and it has to be Tim’s vision.

He created this environment, which was as exciting as it was on the first one, and you felt so free to try things. Because I trust him a thousand percent, so I really felt this trust and felt safe enough to try the craziest things. And I know he’s not going to use something if it doesn’t work.

But, initially, the thought of her having a kid and being in a relationship? I just never thought of her that way. I always kind of pictured her as somewhat of a loner, but envisioning; just sort of in her own world in a good way. But the way he was able to recreate that vibe on the set was incredible. What a gift. He was so present.

The Atmosphere Of Beetlejuice 2’s Set Reinvigorated More Than Just Tim Burton

“I Don’t Think I’ve Ever Bonded With Someone Like I Did With Jenna”

Speaking of her child, Jenna Ortega not only plays your daughter but assumes the role of the disgruntled teen that you made so famous in the original. Do you see any similarities between herself and you in that film, or did you feel a kinship with her?

Winona Ryder: I definitely do. I don’t think I’ve ever bonded with someone like I did with Jenna. It was insane. And it did feel a lot like I was talking to a younger version of myself, but she’s just like a thousand times cooler. Because we both have the same almost religious reverence for film. She is a cinephile, and we just can talk movies for years. We just bonded so intensely, and that was incredibly helpful.

And I do think she was able to bring her own thing to Astrid, which I thought was really, really beautiful. She definitely has the gene, but she also has all this other stuff going on. I was really just blown away by her.

Tim Burton has called this a reinvigorating experience after he almost gave up on filmmaking. Could you sense that being reinvigorated on set?

Winona Ryder: Oh, yeah! That’s what I mean; he had the same energy that he had on the first one, where we never felt like there was a studio giving us notes. And that might be just a testament to the great producers, but he would just get an idea on the spot, and [say], “Let’s try this!”

He was the first director who ever asked me what I thought when I was 15. When you’re that age, you’re usually sort of told, “This is where you stand, and this is your cue.” And Tim always included me, which was very meaningful to me. He’d be, “Well, what do you think?” And it was such a [gift] that he did that, that he got that, and that we became really good friends on that first one. And he’s the same guy. He’s just such a genius. It’s just special; the most special experience.

About Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.

Check back for our other Beetlejuice Beetlejuice interviews:

• Catherine O’Hara & Jenna Ortega
• Justin Theroux
• Monica Bellucci

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.

Release Date

September 6, 2024

Studio(s)

KatzSmith Productions , Tim Burton Productions , Warner Bros. Pictures , Plan B Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Writers

Alfred Gough , Miles Millar , Mike Vukadinovich , Seth Grahame-Smith , Michael McDowell , Larry Wilson

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