Winona Ryder’s journey from ‘Stranger Things’ to ‘Beetlejuice 2’: A tale of dedication and passion<\/p>\n
Winona Ryder, a name synonymous with iconic roles and timeless performances,\u200b recently shared an intriguing revelation during an interview with Harper\u2019s Bazaar. When she first met the creators of “Stranger Things,” Matt and Ross Duffer, she had one non-negotiable condition: if “Beetlejuice 2” ever\u2063 got the green light, \u200bshe \u200cwould need a break from the series to film it. The Duffer Brothers agreed, and Ryder was cast as \u2064Joyce Byers, a role that would become a cornerstone of Netflix’s original content.<\/p>\n
A decade of Joyce \u200bByers<\/p>\n
\u201cI am literally on \u200bmy 10th year playing her,\u201d Ryder mentioned in a video interview for the magazine. \u201cIt\u2019s an absolute first for me to play a character for\u2064 that long. It was huge to say \u200dyes to just one episode \u2026\u2062 they only gave me the pilot episode. I didn\u2019t at the time know what streaming was. It was \u2062terrifying in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryder’s\u2064 commitment to “Stranger Things”\u2062 has been unwavering, and her portrayal of Joyce Byers has resonated deeply with audiences. The character’s evolution over the seasons has been a testament \u200dto\u2064 Ryder’s versatility and dedication.<\/p>\n
The long road to ‘Beetlejuice 2’<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time, Tim [Burton] and I\u2064 were talking about the \u2018Beetlejuice\u2019 sequel,\u201d Ryder continued. \u201cThere \u200chave been moments over \u2063the last\u2062 15 years \u200cwhere we thought it was going to happen,\u2063 but that\u2019s the thing \u2026\u2064 it had to be perfect\u2062 with everybody in order for it to happen. I remember at my first meeting with the Duffer Bros. I said, \u2018As long as if \u201cBeetlejuice 2\u201d happens you\u2019ll let me go do that.\u2019 They agreed. Luckily it worked out. That was my one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tim Burton, the visionary director \u2064behind the original “Beetlejuice,” also shared his\u200c thoughts with Harper\u2019s Bazaar. He recalled the various ideas that \u2064floated around for a sequel \u2063after the 1988 film became a\u2064 cult classic. \u201c\u2018Beetlejuice Goes to Outer Space,\u2019 Beetlejuice does whatever. There\u2019d been talk about it, but I never really understood why it was popular. And this was when people didn\u2019t talk about sequels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ryder added\u200b that there were numerous times over the years\u2062 when she met with Burton to\u2062 discuss the sequel, often\u2063 without her agents’ knowledge. The anticipation and uncertainty surrounding “Beetlejuice 2” were palpable, but the stars finally aligned.<\/p>\n
The making of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’<\/p>\n
It turns out Ryder wouldn\u2019t need to take a \u201cStranger Things\u201d break in order to finally shoot \u201cBeetlejuice 2,\u201d\u2064 which is officially titled \u201cBeetlejuice Beetlejuice\u201d and\u200c arrives in theaters this September after \u2063premiering at the Venice Film Festival. The long-awaited sequel was shot between\u200c “Stranger Things” seasons,\u200b allowing Ryder to fulfill her commitments to \u200bboth projects.<\/p>\n
In\u2064 \u201cBeetlejuice Beetlejuice,\u201d Ryder reprises her role as Lydia Deetz. This time, Lydia is a pill-popping widow \u2064struggling to connect with her daughter, Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega. Lydia hosts a television series called \u201cGhost House\u201d \u2064thanks to her\u200d ability to\u2063 see and speak to the dead, but a rift exists between her and Astrid since the one dead person she can\u2019t connect with is her late husband and Astrid\u2019s father.<\/p>\n