Tommy Harper, a producer on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, believes that the juice could get loose one more time to round out a potential trilogy. Tim Burton’s long-awaited follow-up has produced wild numbers at the box office, still maintaining the No.1 spot at the domestic box office, warding off the recently released Transformers One. A third installment in the franchise hasn’t yet been confirmed by Warner Bros. or Tim Burton, but Harper says the door will always be open for Burton to complete the trilogy. Speaking to Deadline, Tommy Harper believes that Tim Burton will want to make a third movie in the Beetlejuice franchise.
“I think with Tim’s love for the title and the characters, the door is open, but we’ll see what happens next,” Harper said.
Tim Harper has been a long-time collaborator with Tim Burton, as the pair first worked together on the underrated 2003 movie Big Fish (starring Ewan McGregor). Given the critical and box office success of the Beetlejuice sequel, it is hard to see why Warner Bros. wouldn’t want to produce a threequel. Perhaps the ghoul will finally make his way to Hawaii…
While Tim Burton has yet to confirm work on a third Beetlejuice movie, the director has several upcoming projects in the pipeline. Most notably, Burton is currently working on the second season of Wednesday, also starring Jenna Ortega. Additionally, Burton and Harper are set to reunite for the director’s long-rumored remake of the cult 1958 sci-fi/horror Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. Harper didn’t say too much about the movie, but did reveal that the script should be completed soon. The producer explained:
“That’s something we’ve been developing with a writer for a while for which we’re supposed to get a script soon.”
Tim Burton May Not Make a Third Beetlejuice
While Tommy Harper holds out hope for a third installment, Tim Burton himself isn’t so optimistic. It has taken nearly 40 years for the filmmaker to return to Winter River for a second adventure with the Deetz family. Before helming the new movie, Burton had considered retiring from the industry altogether. Even though the idea for the legacy sequel gave him the spark to return to the director’s chair, Burton joked that he might not have another 40 years to wait to make a third movie. The director said:
“Well, if [the same] time frame goes on, I’ll be about 100. So maybe. I doubt it.”
The ending to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice does indeed leave the door open for a third installment. Despite Lydia Deetz managing to defeat Betelgeuse at the church, mere moments before their wedding, the final scenes show the ghost with the most re-appearing through several dream sequences. Is Betelgeuse still alive (at least, in spirit) and scamming his way through the afterlife once again? Or did Lydia and Astrid finally manage to get rid of the spirit once and for all? Hopefully, fans won’t be waiting another 40 years to find out.
Even if Burton doesn’t return for a third Beetlejuice movie, fans are content knowing that he’s back in the director’s chair, passionate about making more movies and shows. Burton and Jenna Ortega will soon be re-united in the second season of Wednesday. The immensely popular show got a fresh look at Netflix’s Geeked Week, which reveals some behind-the-scenes footage of the show’s production. Season 2 of Wednesday will be released in 2025.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
is currently screening in theaters.