With Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis’ characters from Beetlejuice not returning for the recent sequel, fans have been buzzing with theories about how their characters ‘moved on’.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice premiered in theaters last week, bringing back the original film’s star cast, including Michael Keaton as the titular demon and Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz. The sequel also features rising star Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter.
However, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis were noticeably absent.
In the 1988 dark comedy, Davis and Baldwin portrayed Adam and Barbara Maitland, who die at the beginning of the film. Unaware of their deaths, they return home only to discover they are now ghosts.
They seek the assistance of ‘bio exorcist’ Beetlejuice to help them evict the new owners of their house. As fans of the film know, this plan goes disastrously wrong.
Given their significant roles in the original film, many fans have been left speculating about their whereabouts after noticing their absence from the sequel.
Tim Burton has clarified why the actors did not return, dismissing rumors that Baldwin’s involvement in the death of Halyna Hutchins was a factor. Burton stated: “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.”
Regarding the Maitlands’ story, ghost media often suggests that spirits with ‘unfinished business’ haunt places. This has led many fans to believe that the deceased couple had unfinished business in their home in the original film.
In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ryder’s character reveals that the Maitlands discovered a ‘loophole’ that allowed them to move on to the afterlife, neatly explaining their absence in the sequel’s plot.
This theory, shared on Reddit under the title ‘Theory about how they moved on’, has resonated with many fans who feel they’ve uncovered the truth.
The post reads: “In a lot of ghost media the ghosts are haunting a place because of unfinished business, and it’s never explicitly said why the Maitlands are haunting their place.
“I believe it’s because their ‘unfinished business’ was how they were never able to become parents. And after they did sort of achieve that with Lydia at the end of the first movie, they moved on once Lydia became an adult.”
One fan commented: “I think you nailed it on the head. Their loophole was to finish their business.
“Could be said to have a child or, like you say, the childlike relationship with Lydia.
“Or simply by them coming to terms with the people in their home and changes as well they accepted it and were able to move in because that was also another point of their stresses.”
The commenter concluded: “Regardless, I do wish they talked on the point a bit more. Since I am sure Lydia was in touch with them as much as she could be.”
Another comment read: “Love this so sweet,” while another added: “I love this theory and it makes perfect sense.”
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in cinemas now.