The Ghost with the Most stole the spotlight in the majestic Sala Grande with a prolonged, four-minute-plus standing ovation as Tim Burton's Beetlejuice, in all its reincarnated glory, premiered as the curtain-raiser of the esteemed Venice Film Festival this evening. The audience's fervor was palpable, as they showered the film with a heartfelt 4-minute, 35-second ovation, their applause perfectly synchronized with the closing melody. Notably absent were the customary post-screening speeches from the cast and creators, a stark contrast to the Cannes custom, adding to the pure, unadulterated celebration of the moment.
Burton, accompanied by Michael Keaton, who reprises his iconic role three and a half decades after the original supernatural comedy's debut, graced the red carpet. Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe, stars of the film, also graced the occasion.
Earlier, amidst the film's rapturous press screening, Burton confided to reporters that the original Beetlejuice was deeply personal to him. "Reuniting with Michael, Winona, and Catherine, along with the fresh energy of Jenna, Monica, Justin, and Willem, has made this project even more intimate and exceptional," he enthused. "It's been a deeply personal journey for me."
Keaton echoed the sentiment, stating that the film's uniqueness was beyond mere words. When queried about the possibility of a third installment, Burton quipped, "Doing the math, it took 35 years for this one. For the next, I'd be well over 100. Medical science might make it feasible, but I'm not counting on it." Keaton, ever the comedian, chimed in, quipping that since Beetlejuice is deceased, he doesn't age, leaving the door slightly ajar for further adventures.
Beetlejuice 2 picks up the tale where it left off, with the Deetz family, spanning three generations, returning to Winter River amidst turmoil. Lydia's (Ryder) life is thrown into chaos when her rebellious teen daughter, Astrid (Ortega), stumbles upon a mysterious model of the town hidden in the attic, inadvertently unlocking the gateway to the Afterlife. With chaos brewing on both sides of the veil, it's inevitable that someone will soon utter Beetlejuice's name three times, summoning the mischievous demon once more to unleash his signature chaos.
The Warner Bros. offering is competing out of the fray in Venice and embarks on its international journey on September 4, with North America joining the fray on September 6.
