Like many sequels released after a long gap, not every original cast member is returning for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” which premieres 36 years after its predecessor.
Alec Baldwin, a key actor from the original film, is notably absent along with another major star.
Baldwin and Geena Davis, who played the ghostly couple Adam and Barbara Maitland, are not returning for the sequel.
As the sequel’s release approaches, fans have been curious about the reasons for their absence.
While some speculated that Baldwin’s involvement in the tragic incident on the set of “Rust” might be a factor, director Tim Burton offered a different explanation.
Burton explained: “I think the thing was for me I didn’t want to just tick any boxes. So even though they were such an amazing integral part of the first one, I was focusing on something else.”
Speaking to People Magazine, Burton elaborated that his primary focus for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” was around the theme of the passage of time, and not just including familiar faces for the sake of it.
He added: “A sequel like this, it really had to do with the time.
“That was my hook into it, the three generations of mother, daughter, granddaughter. And that would be the nucleus of it. I couldn’t have made this personally back in 1989 or whatever.”
Michael Keaton, who reprises his role as the titular Beetlejuice, shared with People that he and Burton had numerous discussions over the years about returning to the story.
He said: “We thought, ‘You got to get this right.’ I was hesitant and cautious, and he was probably equally as hesitant and cautious.
“Once we got there, I said, ‘OK, let’s just go for it.’”
Geena Davis was the first to reveal her non-participation, telling Entertainment Weekly: “I’m not in the remake. Oh, you were expecting that I would be? Yeah, no, you know what? Because my theory is that ghosts don’t age … Not that I have!”
In the film, it’s explained that the characters found a ‘loophole’ that allowed them to move on.
The sequel has been a major success, with new cast member Jenna Ortega contributing significantly to its popularity.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” despite its larger budget, has already surpassed the entire box office run of the original film in its opening weekend alone.
With a 7.2 rating on IMDb and a 76 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, a third installment seems likely, provided the cast can be reassembled.
However, it’s unlikely that Alec Baldwin will make a return.