Disillusioned Tim Burton finds himself again in ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel

VENICE—Director Tim Burton acknowledged on Wednesday that he fell out of love with the film business in recent years, but rediscovered his mojo while shooting a sequel to his 1988 comedy horror “Beetlejuice.”

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” opened this year’s Venice Film Festival and reunites many of the original cast, including Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, while introducing an array of fresh faces such as Jenna Ortega (of “Wednesday” fame).

‘Reenergizing’

Burton had not expected to revisit one of his earliest hits, but said he had been encouraged by making “Wednesday” for Netflix in 2022 and decided it was time to check in again with the anarchic demon Betelgeuse, played by Keaton.

“In the past couple of years, I got a bit disillusioned with the movie industry … this movie was reenergizing,” Burton told reporters.

After a string of early successes, including “Edward Scissorhands” and “Ed Wood” in the early 1990s, more recent outings have been less fruitful, including the 2019 live-action remake of Disney’s “Dumbo,” which was panned by critics.

Thirty-six years after the original, Ryder returns in the role of Lydia, who has grown up from the Goth teenager she once was into an anxious mother of a disaffected daughter, played by Ortega, who needs saving from the underworld.