Here's all the behind the scenes facts & trivia fans should know. Luckily, David Geffen, who was overseeing the development of the film at Warner Bros, suggested Keaton, who eventually won the role. By Ben Brantley. From Beetlejuice to Batman to Birdman: the actor on superheroes, surprise roles and his second act. 5 Jun. If there is one reason to be glad that famed script doctor Warren Skaaren was brought in to lighten up the material, it is what the main antagonist would become instead. A passage from Tim Burton: A Childs Garden of Nightmares - a biography about the filmmaker penned by Paul A. I was a kid who liked adventure stories, who fantasised too much, who was extremely physically active. Ever since the original was released and proved successful, Warner Bros. wanted Tim Burton to make a sequel. How can that be? The screenplay for Beetlejuice was originally written as a straight horror film. In 1988, one undead figure showed up in movie theaters and captured the imaginations of. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Beetlejuice was originally a more laid back, lounge singer-type character, so a former Rat Packer would've made sense. 16. October 16, 2014 / 12:33 PM / CBS NEWS. At a MoMA Tim Burton exhibit a few years ago, there were original versions of the script on display, complete with Burton's notes and comments, which indicated a move away from the bleak to the lighthearted. The final scene of Beetlejuice is sort of an epilogue. Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice and Batman) is a scream of laughs in this movie. Here are the 15 Shocking Things You Didn't Know About Beetlejuice. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Photograph: Moviestore/Rex/Shutterstock, With Melanie Griffith in Pacific Heights (1990). In fact, ol' Betelgeuse was depicted as a winged, reptilian demon whose human form is that of a Middle Eastern man in the original script. Academy Awards, USA 1989 Winner Oscar: Best Makeup Ve Neill Steve LaPorte Robert Short: . Well, Michael Keaton may have played the starring role in Beetlejuice (credited as Betelgeuse), but did you know he has just a minuscule 17 minutes screentime in this 92-minute film? This is predominantly down to Burtons artistic style in the late 80s and early 90s (and what from the 80s doesnt look dated, anyway?) Hey, things turned out for the better here, right? I had no idea what he was talking about, but I liked him, Keaton said in a 2014 interview of Burton. It sounds like Mr. Burton is quite the salesman maybe that's how he has convinced execs that he needs to cast Johnny Depp in nearly all of his projects. Look, its not like I dont think about the business I am cognisant of that side of things but if you overthink the money part, you tend to mess it up. Maybe we're all going to be dead. This concept came from the brain of Michael McDowell, who worked with Larry Wilson on the story. Co-star . As the rumor goes, Anjelica Huston was all but set to play Delia Deetz; however, she had to bow out of the production due to illness. I dont hate it, but its never my first choice. In retrospect, that was smart advice and added a little more character to the scene. He rules, at least in his head. He constantly switches accents and costumes, giving the feeling that he really has been everywhere at any given time. 15. And the truth is, Im not boasting, but I was correct. I tell him I always thought it was a shame he didnt do more John Hughes comedies after Mr Mom. Just thinking about things, asking what you want, what you dont want, how am I going to get to there? Keaton has enjoyed a long and successful acting career that has spanned from the 1970s all the way into the current era. A change., I dont get the impression its a change hell necessarily repeat. Not so much, he says. Once hes released into the outside world, its very hard to get rid of him. Beetlejuice is kind of a strange name when you think about it. His family visited him, and there have been girlfriends (he is in a relationship now, but its the one subject he refuses to discuss), but in the main he was on his own. RELATED:The 10 Most Memorable Tim Burton Characters, Ranked. In the sequel, the franchise elevated his paycheck to $11 million. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, These werent just cute little movies; these were about the economy, employment, unemployment, small towns. He also creates video essays and supercuts for the YouTube channel I Got Touched at the Cinema. While the film will always remain a cult favourite, it does look very dated now. As the actor recalled to Charlie Rose during a 2014 interview, he actually had a lot to do with the creation of Betelgeuse (as his name is actually spelled in the film). Its an action movie. Michael Keaton had no clue what director Tim Burton was talking about when he was pitched Beetlejuice, so he turned it down several times. While they are trying to think deeply about how they will solve their crisis, Betelgeuse is jabbering away in the corner and distracting them as much as possible. Do you know any other interesting things about Beetlejuice? Look, theres two different things here, he says, leaning forward and tapping my knee, emphasising his points in a manner that feels more paternal than creepy. 7. When I mention one particularly intense scene, he shrugs: I think Im OK in it. It's amazing. Just that make up job still gives us nightmares.. Still not convinced, Keaton met with Burton a third time which is when something finally clicked. It's remarkably similar to the makeup he wore for the movie "Beetlejuice". Were all here for a millisecond, so how bad can this be? he says, his drawn-out vowels (maaan, baaad) revealing his Pittsburgh origins. I ask if it was strange having an only child when he grew up in such a big family. This clever recommendation would lead to the creation of the creepy office setting where the Maitlands literally spend three months waiting to see someone, amid a whos who of truly unfortunate souls. He can morph into pretty much any size or shape, swap voices in a split second, and go from charming to terrifying just as quickly. So what are you waiting for? I just thought, I know what Im doing, and I could be wrong, but in terms of what Tim and I discussed for the movie, I knew we were right on, he says now. For Keaton, he wasn't too keen on Beetlejuice when he received the script. Michael Keaton is set to return for a Beetlejuice sequel, according to reports. 3 from Crystal Lake Publishing. The title character is struck in the afterlifes waiting room, and tries to cut in line in front of a witch doctor. Planes, Trains & Automobiles thats the movie I really wish Id been in! he says, citing the 1987 John Hughes classic starring John Candy and Steve Martin. Keaton spent just two weeks shooting all of his scenes and has since called it the favorite role he's ever played. Oh, yeah, hes cute, hes been around a while., He describes himself as a weird kid, but then corrects himself: I mean, I dont think I was weird. The moody, cartoonish 1990 film was a breakthrough for many of the crew involved. Back in 1988, Tim Burton unleashed Beetlejuice on the world. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Think Robin Williams and Jim Carreys energy levels combined, then add a tonne of makeup and outlandish costumes and you have Keatons Betelgeuse. "Barb, honey we're dead. So I may have lost interest, combined with a whole lot of people not knocking on my door. Id be happy having me as a kid. Financial analysis of Beetlejuice (1988) including budget, domestic and international box office gross, DVD and Blu-ray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Now 25 years later, it is reported that a sequel is finally going forward with Burton in talks to direct and Keaton returning to star. As such, it's hard for me to isolate a given scene or shot," he said. It was a time of nouveau riche excess everyone was known for their jets and their stuff. His walk is reminiscent of a roosters strut, with his chest puffed out and a bounce on his toes; that swagger we saw in 2014s Birdman, for which Keaton won a Golden Globe as the eponymous former superhero actor, was not a put on, it turns out. Yeah, probably. A scene-stealer that plays the title role in a film? Truth be told, Alley isn't the first or the last star to lose out on a role because of a TV show commitment. When it was changed to a comedy, the studio wanted to call the movie House Ghosts. Did he ever tell him that he stole his name? The Oscar-nominated actor, who turned 70 on. Jun 29, 2022; no comments . Michael Keaton has always been eager to do the sequel and has maintained that hell happily do it if it gets into production today but Tim Burton didnt have any interest in it. At the end of the day, Tim Burton decided to go with Winona Ryder after being wowed by her performance in 1986's Lucas. After all, the original script doesn't sound like a big crowd pleaser. The two are often each others dates to award ceremonies: Sean came to the Golden Globes when his dad won for Birdman, and Keaton tearfully thanked him, calling him his best friend. "But since Tim told me to I did and then we dated and we're married and here we are today," he said. Juliette Lewis was almost Lydia instead of Winona Ryder! I interviewed Burton a few years ago and, meeting Keaton, it is obvious why the two men feel such an affinity (they are currently working together again, on Burtons live-action remake of Dumbo). No one else could pull off angsty, goth girl like she could at the time or maybe even now. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin play the Maitlands, a cute, loving couple who live in a big, warm home that they dearly love. Since Birdman, he has played the editor of the Boston Globes investigative journalism team in the 2015 ensemble movie Spotlight, which won a Best Picture Oscar; and he was a curveball choice as Ray Kroc, the man who turned McDonalds into a franchise, in 2016s too-little-seen The Founder. Young Artist Awards 1989 A Lighter and Brighter Approach That Failed Burton jokingly suggested Scared Sheetless as a title and was mortified when executives actually considered using it. Was he drawn to acting because he was used to having an audience of siblings? My contribution had to do with the attacking shrimp. Free shipping for many products! Its like making movies with Tim [Burton], he says, those eyebrows rising in various directions. He spent those years hanging out in Montana, hunting with neighbours and walking in the woods. The movies upbeat ending and other crucial aspects are key as to why Beetlejuice may just be the most delightfully strange and unusual movie ever made in which death is a major theme. But unlike Riggan, the Birdman character who becomes obsessed by his superhero alter ego, Keaton walked away, refusing to make Batman 3 when Burton wasnt rehired as director. NY 10036. recalled to Charlie Rose during a 2014 interview, doubts his neurotic 30-year-old self had, originally ended with Lydia perishing in a fire, James Cameron Discusses The Connection Between Avatar And The Abyss, Viral TikTok Of Chris Pine Admitting His Publicist Roasted Him For Looking Like 'Rachel From Friends' Is Pretty Great, 5 Oscar Nominated Movies To Make Sure You Watch Before The 2023 Ceremony, Best 'Creed' In The Trilogy? That's a real bummer, isn't it? O'Hara was immediately on board after meeting with the director. Keatons crazy eyebrows are put to good use as the on-the-edge mentor, but it is a somewhat baffling choice for him: the movie is undeniably generic for an actor who has always eschewed straightforward genre. We discussed it. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. New York, [The film] just wasnt any good, man. 3. Okay, maybe that last bit is a lie, but did it at least make you laugh considering that you made it this far? While it does seem like the cast and crew had a whale of a time on set, it wasn't all roses and sunshine. However, the March 2023 report has now been confirmed as a complete hoax, the actor best known for his roles in Birdman, Batman or Beetlejuice is alive and well. but something about the character of Betelgeuse isnt dated at all. Speaking about the movie to Uproxx, cinematographer Tom Ackerman recalled the fond experience of working on it. For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary. This is major news for a sequel that's been long-rumored but never fulfilled until now. He came up with the title Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian to throw the studio executives off their desire to make a sequel, but surprisingly, they liked the concept and the Beetlejuice sequel has been in development under that title for decades. Michael Keaton. Compare this performance with other movies. Naturally, the smell of money was a temptation that couldn't be resisted and a script for the sequel was commissioned. So, here are 10 fascinating behind-the-scenes facts from the making of Beetlejuice. In The New Yorker, critic Pauline Kael compared the. Considering the movie is named after his character, Michael Keaton has a surprisingly small amount of screen time as Beetlejuice only 17 minutes. So he would never do anything just for the money? RELATED:The 10 Greatest Lines From Beetlejuice. Then the duo went their separate ways for decades. I was hailed as a genius. Can he even remember any of that presumably pretty overwhelming decade? "I thought it would be much more interesting to take someone like that and make him into Batman. Michael Keaton grew up just outside Pittsburgh, and his real name was and remains Michael Douglas; by the time he started acting, the other one had got there first. There has been talk of a Beetlejuice 2 with Michael Keaton interested, but he has not officially signed on for a sequel. Grahame-Smith did meet with Burton as recently as five years ago about. After Keaton joined up and additional footage was shot, it was decided to use a snake that looked more like Betelgeuse. As a result, his punishment was five years probation, counseling, and the requirement to register as an offender. He may not really care what people think of him today, but 30-year-old Alec Baldwin did back in 1988. The undead title character, Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), finds a brothel; women invite him inside. No, Kirk changed it from Danielovitch, I say. Juice!. Michael Keaton made an icon out of the title character with less than 20 minutes of screen time. With that said, it's showtime! I think she understands me." Beetlejuice. Welch told Uproxx the story of how the relationship happened: "Towards the end of the movie Tim [Burton] told me, we were shooting in Vermont, 'You should ask Catherine out.' His iconic roles as Beetlejuice and Batman gave his career the proper boost to succeed today. When he's not reading or writing, he enjoys a game of Pro Evolution Soccer, watching football, catching up on films, and playing with his dog. so a former Rat Packer would've made sense. He also tries to coerce Lydia (Winona Ryder) into marrying him. Larry Wilson also spoke to Yahoo! With a lot of ad-libbing involved, Keaton seems to be on a different wavelength to Baldwin and Davis entirely, which works incredibly well. "Beetlejuice" is one of the funniest horror films ever made. Look for his name in just about any article related to Batman. He and McWilliams divorced in 1990. After Batman, Keaton took a series of notably unstarry roles a tenant from hell opposite Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine in Pacific Heights, a hammy Dogberry in Kenneth Branaghs Much Ado About Nothing. Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. Michael Keaton's net worth in 2022 is $40 million. Check out the video below to see some of the graveyard rock n' roll action: A sequel to "Beetlejuice" has been Hollywood lore for years. Man, you got me going on this!, We spend 10 minutes nerding out over The Breakfast Club, before he thinks back to when he met Hughes while making Mr Mom: I read the script and I thought, Wow, this is really funny, this guy has something. And then I met John and I said, You ought to direct this [too]. But he said no, he was off to direct those movies starring people closer to your age, he says, referring to the teen movies, which is sweet, because I am in my late 30s. So I showed up for work and I walked on the stage and said, This is either going to be way off the mark, or hes going to I dont know what hes going to do..