- Beetlejuice sequel premieres in Venice with Tim Burton at the helm
- Original cast members return, joined by new faces like Jenna Ortega
- Film marks Burton's return to form after feeling disillusioned with Hollywood
The Venice Film Festival kicked off with much fanfare as the stars of the highly anticipated sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice graced the Italian city for its premiere. Director Tim Burton has returned to his 1988 cult classic for this new installment, reuniting with key cast members Catherine O’Hara, Winona Ryder, and Michael Keaton.
The sequel also introduces new faces to the franchise, including Jenna Ortega, known for her role in Wednesday, and Oscar-nominated actor Willem Dafoe. The festival is expected to draw numerous A-list celebrities over its 10-day run, with Lady Gaga, George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Julianne Moore, and Brad Pitt among those anticipated to make appearances.
Ahead of the film’s premiere, the stars and director arrived in Venice via water taxi, embodying the gothic style of the original film. Many of them were dressed in dark, gothic attire, with some donning black-and-white costumes that paid homage to the distinctive Beetlejuice aesthetic. After their arrival, the celebrities took time to sign autographs and pose for photographs with fans.
This year’s festival marks a return to grandeur after a subdued event last year, which was affected by the Hollywood writers’ strike. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice features Michael Keaton reprising his role as the iconic, mischievous ghoul. The film is set to be released in the UK on September 6.
Tim Burton, who is also known for directing Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Alice in Wonderland, described the film as a heartfelt project. “In the past few years I got a little bit disillusioned with the movie industry,” Burton said in a pre-festival interview. “For me, this movie was re-energising, kind of getting back to the things that I love doing, the way I love doing it, the people I love doing it with.”
