In a simultaneously unexpected and not-too-surprising move by Warner Bros, it’s been confirmed that Beetlejuice 3 is already in development, which could give Tim Burton a major career first with his franchises. After a series of moderate box office successes and some notable disappointments throughout the 2010s, Burton returned to movie directing for the first time since 2019’s Dumbo with 2024’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to his classic 1988 horror comedy Beetlejuice. Though its announcement was initially met with both skepticism and excitement, Beetlejuice 2’s $451 million box office haul and positive reviews gave Tim Burton a long-awaited comeback.
Now, that comeback is seemingly continuing with the studio capitalizing on Beetlejuice 2’s resounding success. Considering Burton had previously expressed doubts about the possibility of another sequel happening in his lifetime (via THR), WB confirming Beetlejuice 3’s development so soon was surprising. That said, it would be difficult for the studio to ignore Beetlejuice’s franchise potential after impressive commercial and critical responses, especially since Beetlejuice 2’s ending leaves the door open for Michael Keaton’s titular ghost to return again. Plus, if Burton directs Beetlejuice 3, it’ll finally give him a career feat he came close to achieving in the 1990s.
Beetlejuice 3 Would Become Tim Burton’s First Movie Trilogy (If He Returns To Direct)
Burton Has Never Directed A Full Movie Trilogy Before
Though Warner Bros. is developing Beetlejuice 3, it hasn’t been confirmed whether Tim Burton will return to direct. If he chooses not to, it won’t be the first time that he hasn’t come back for a sequel to one of his movies. Following the $1 billion box office success of Alice in Wonderland in 2010, Tim Burton left the director’s chair for a producer role on Disney’s 2016 follow-up, Alice Through the Looking Glass. Additionally, after two directorial successes with Batman (1989) and its sequel, Batman Returns (1992), Burton never got a trilogy out of his Caped Crusader movies.
|
Tim Burton Sequels |
Length Of Time Between The Original Movie & Sequel’s Releases |
|---|---|
|
Batman Returns (1992) |
3 Years |
|
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) |
36 Years |
As such, if Tim Burton returns to direct Beetlejuice 3, it’ll mark his first proper movie trilogy. Considering Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was only the second sequel Burton had directed in his career, following Batman Returns, a trilogy being completed so soon wasn’t expected to be on the director’s plate. However, with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice already marking a triumphant return to the themes, style, and filming approach of Burton’s ‘80s and ‘90s heyday, it would be exciting to see him keep this momentum going with a continuation of his beloved horror-comedy characters’ stories.
Beetlejuice 3 Shouldn’t Happen Unless Tim Burton Returns
Burton Needs To Be In The Director’s Chair For It To Work
The news of Beetlejuice 3 being in development is exciting, but its prospects without Tim Burton in the director’s chair aren’t nearly as great. The Beetlejuice franchise became a uniquely Tim Burton vision, and it wouldn’t feel right to have the stories of Keaton’s Betelgeuse, Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz, or even now Jenna Ortega’s Astrid Deetz told through the eyes of another director. Not to mention, Burton has previously noted the personal significance of Lydia’s story and its connection to his own life experiences, so it would be difficult to trust Beetlejuice 3’s narrative outside his hands.
Beetlejuice
9/10
- Release Date
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March 30, 1988
- Runtime
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92 minutes
- Writers
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Michael McDowell, Larry Wilson, Warren Skaaren