Warner Bros. isn’t done with the ghost with the most. Following the massive success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in 2024, which pulled in $451.9 million worldwide on a $100 million budget, the studio has officially confirmed that Beetlejuice 3 is in active development.
Warner Bros. Pictures co-chairman and CEO Mike De Luca recently spilled the beans in an interview with Deadline, where he was asked about potential follow-ups to the studio’s recent hits.
Regarding a third Beetlejuice film, De Luca said:
“Imminently. The ink might not be dry on the deals yet, but imminently.”
This move is part of Warner Bros.’ larger push to breathe new life into fan-favorite IPs. Alongside Beetlejuice, the studio is eyeing updates to The Bodyguard, The Matrix, Practical Magic, Gremlins, and The Goonies. So if it feels like 1990s video stores are suddenly making programming decisions again… you’re not wrong.
The question is, will Beetlejuice mastermind Tim Burton return for another round?
So far, his answer leans toward “maybe not.” Burton has shown hesitation when asked about taking on a third film, even visibly squirming during interviews last summer when the topic of a Beetlejuice universe expansion came up.
But, without Burton’s gothic fingerprints all over it, the entire vibe could shift. His offbeat style is as essential to this franchise as Michael Keaton’s manic performance. But it would be interesting to see another director’s vision for the franchise.
Speaking of Keaton, his return in the sequel, alongside original cast members Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, was a big part of what made Beetlejuice Beetlejuice click with audiences. Add in new cast members like Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe, the film found a good blend of nostalgia and fresh blood.
A third chapter would need to replicate that magic of the original while avoiding the temptation to go too big, too fast. I felt like the story for the sequel was cluttered and uneven. But, most audiences seemed to enjoy it.
If Beetlejuice 3 is going to work for a third round, it’ll need to respect what made the first film so delightfully unhinged. Hopefully, whoever the creative team is will avoid the mistakes of the sequel.
Regardless, the afterlife clearly still has some unfinished business, and hopefully the creative team comes up with a great story worth telling. Also, the title needs to be Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.
