Venice Film Festival kicks off with a gothic flair
The 2024 Venice Film Festival opened with a bang, featuring the much-anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The film, directed by Tim Burton, received a three-minute standing ovation, setting a high bar for the festival.
A star-studded reception
The applause might have continued indefinitely if not for the festival organizers dimming the lights. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Jenna Ortega took center stage, basking in the audience’s admiration. Keaton and Burton were particularly popular, signing numerous autographs. However, Burton declined a fan’s request to design her next tattoo.
Ortega, dazzling in a red Dior gown, embraced her role as the franchise’s newcomer. She took selfies with fans and led a standing ovation for Sigourney Weaver, who received an honorary Golden Lion before the screening of Beetlejuice 2.
A return to the afterlife
Warner Bros.’ fantasy comedy horror film will hit theaters 36 years after the original 1988 cult classic. The sequel features returning stars Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara, alongside new cast members Ortega, Monica Bellucci, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe. The plot revolves around the Deetz family returning to their old home. Ryder’s character’s rebellious teenage daughter, played by Ortega, discovers a model of the town in the attic, opening a portal to the afterlife and releasing Keaton’s Betelgeuse once more.
Watch the trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
A long journey to the screen
The sequel has been in the works for decades. After the original film’s success, grossing $74.7 million, several scripts were commissioned, including one where Beetlejuice goes to Hawaii. However, it wasn’t until Seth Grahame-Smith came on board as a writer in 2011 that the project gained momentum. The film was officially announced in early 2022, produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment and Warner Bros.
Early tracking reports suggest that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice could earn between $65-80 million in its opening weekend in the U.S.
Tim Burton’s revival
In an interview before the Venice Film Festival, Burton revealed that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice saved him from retirement. After the lukewarm reception of his 2019 live-action Dumbo, he considered stepping away from filmmaking.
“I thought that could have been it, really. I could have retired, or become… well, I wouldn’t have become an animator again,” Burton said. “But this did reenergize me. Oftentimes, when you get into Hollywood, you try to be responsible to what you’re doing with the budget and everything else but sometimes you might lose yourself a little bit. This reinforced the feeling for me that it’s important that I do what I want to do, because then everybody will benefit.”
A promising start
The Venice Film Festival’s opening night set a high standard for the rest of the event. With Beetlejuice Beetlejuice receiving such a warm reception, the festival promises to be a celebration of cinematic excellence. For fans of the original film and newcomers alike, the sequel offers a blend of nostalgia and fresh excitement.
As the festival continues, movie enthusiasts can look forward to more premieres, discussions, and celebrations of the art of filmmaking. The return of Betelgeuse is just the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable festival.