Fans of Beetlejuice have been ecstatic that a sequel has finally gotten off the ground. After all, it’s taken decades for a continuation to come together. Now, however, Beetlejuice and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice director Tim Burton has cast doubt on Beetlejuice 3 ever happening.
Of course, anything can happen. It was previously doubted that a proper sequel to the first Beetlejuice would ever get made. Though it did take 36 years, so acknowledging that large span of time, Tim Burton doesn’t believe he’ll be alive for the next one.
He shared as much while speaking with THR at the U.K. premiere of the film. Here’s what Burton had to say:
“Well, if [the same] time frame goes on, I’ll be about 100. So maybe. I doubt it.”
Obviously this isn’t a very optimistic response for fans hoping that he and Michael Keaton would come together for another round of afterlife chaos sooner than later. But that’s not exactly a bad thing. After all, the cast and crew of the original film have always been adamant that a sequel would only happen if they found the right story for it.
If they were to simply rush a concept together for a third film, then it wouldn’t have the same reason to exist as this second film. And no one wants a weak continuation, especially after Beetlejuice has held such an important place in pop culture history for so long. It’s better to respect the legacy by crafting one solid sequel and, if that’s where it ends, at least fans have two great movies to enjoy.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set to hit theaters on September 6, 2024. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional Tim Burton news as we have it, including any other Beetlejuice updates. Though Beetlejuice 3 seems unlikely to happen at this point, it’s certainly worth celebrating that any sequel finally has. Especially if Beetlejuice Beetlejuice manages to live up to its iconic predecessor.