Tim Burton’s long-awaitedBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceremains faithful to the characterizations of Betelgeuse and the Deetz family from the original movie, but certain unique details were ignored when they returned. Though the 1988Beetlejuicemovie had a fantastic ensemble of living and dead figures, only a feworiginal characters returned in 2024’sBeetlejuice 2, including Betelgeuse, Lydia Deetz, Delia Deetz, Charles Deetz, and Little Jane Butterfield. Overall, themost notable quirks of the original characters were maintained in the sequel, but a few important details were left in the past.
Though Charles’ bird obsession and Delia’s artistic New Yorker quirks returned inBeetlejuice 2, there were some notable differences betweenWinona Ryder’s teenage Lydia Deetz in the 1988 movieand the character’s appearance as an adult. Of course, most people generally change between ages 16 and 52, but Lydia’s altered demeanor is even called out by Delia: “Where’s the obnoxious little goth girl who tormented me all those years ago?” Lydia’s style is the same and her ghost-seeing ability is still prominent, butsome other features, such as her sardonic wit and her teenage hobby, are absent.
Beetlejuice 2 Ignored Lydia’s Photography Interest From The Original Movie
Lydia Photography Hobby Was A Notable Detail For Her Characters In The 1988 Movie
Teenagers often have hobbies that they drop as adults, but Lydia seemed like the type of person who, like Charles with his bird interest, would have maintained her focus on photography into adulthood. Throughout the 1988Beetlejuicemovie, it was often noted that Lydia had a talent as a photographer and used it as her creative outlet. From snapping pictures ofAdam and Barbara Maitland’s ghoststo Charles telling her that he’d put a darkroom in the Winter River house,Lydia’s photography hobby was an important part of her characterization inBeetlejuice.
Beetlejuice 2 Used A Genius Lydia Detail To Hide Jeremy’s True Identity
Jeremy’s real identity was one of Beetlejuice 2’s biggest twists, and the movie kept the truth hidden longer thanks to Lydia’s supernatural gift.
However,there’s no mention of this interest whatsoever inBeetlejuice 2. Charles is still into birds (which ironically leads to his death), Delia has an art gallery in New York City, and Astrid maintains a strong sense of environmental activism after herfather Richard’s death, but it’s hard to tell what Lydia’s personal interests even are in the 2024 sequel. Lydia’s story is almost entirely confined to theGhost HouseTV show that she seems to have little passion for, her relationship with Rory that has no true love involved, and her difficult relationship with Astrid.
Beetlejuice 3 Can Revive Lydia’s Photography Hobby After Ending Her Ghost House Show
Lydia’s Teenage Passion Can Return After Ending Her TV Show
WhileBeetlejuice 2didn’t include any nods to Lydia’s photography hobby, that detail could finally reappear in a potentialBeetlejuice 3movie.No official word has come from Warner Bros about another follow-up, but the 2024 sequel does leave the door open to further explore the Deetz family’s story. For instance, before Delia returns to the afterlife inBeetlejuice 2’s ending, she tells Lydia and Astrid that she intends to find Charles, bring him back with her, and haunt her stepdaughter and granddaughter.
Tim Burton stated in 2024 that he doubtsBeetlejuice 3will happen. The director toldThe Hollywood Reporter, “Well, if [the same] time frame goes on, I’ll be about 100. So maybe. I doubt it.”
IfBeetlejuice 3does happen, thenthe next movie could focus more on Lydia’s personal developments and rediscovery of herselfafter her second bout with Betelgeuse. Since Lydia films her final episode ofGhost House at the end ofBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, she’ll seemingly be looking for another pastime or passion to take over her TV hosting role. Photography, her earliest known passion, could be the answer, fulfilling Delia’s advice to go find the “obnoxious goth girl” who became a horror icon in the 1988 film.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
