Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, and Willem Dafoe, will open the upcoming Venice Film Festival.
The film, a follow-up to Burton’s 1988 comedy-horror classic, features Keaton reprising his role as the foul-mouthed, shape-shifting ghoul.
It will have its world premiere out-of-competition on August 28 at the Lido’s Palazzo del Cinema. The film releases in the U.S. on September 6 via Warner Bros. and will launch internationally starting September 4.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” follows three generations of the Deetz family as they move back into their Winter River home after a sudden death. Lydia’s rebellious teen daughter, Astrid (played by Jenna Ortega), discovers a portal to the afterlife hidden in the basement.
When Beetlejuice’s name is repeated three times, the mischievous spirit returns to wreak havoc in the Deetz family home once again.
This film is the latest horror title to feature scream queen Jenna Ortega, who has become a genre staple.
Ortega previously starred in Tim Burton’s Netflix series “Wednesday” as the titular character and appeared in Ti West’s “X” and two installments of the rebooted “Scream” franchise.
“‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ marks the long-awaited return of one of the most iconic characters of Tim Burton’s cinema, but also the happy confirmation of the extraordinary visionary talent and the masterly realization of one of the most fascinating auteurs of his time,” said Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera in a statement.
“The Venice Biennale is honored and proud to host the world premiere of a work that features a surprising swing of creative imagination and driving hallucinatory rhythm.”
Added Burton,
“I’m very excited by this. It means a lot to me to have the world premiere of this film at the Venice Film Festival.”
Tim Burton directed “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” from a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (“Wednesday”).
The film’s producers include Burton, Marc Toberoff, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Tommy Harper, with Gough, Millar, Sara Desmond, Katterli Frauenfelder, Larry Wilson, Laurence Senelick, and Brad Pitt serving as executive producers.
As previously reported by Variety, this year’s Venice Film Festival is expected to be a star-studded event.
Top Hollywood talents such as Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Gal Gadot, and Ana de Armas are likely to be present, launching high-profile titles from the Lido.
“Joker 2: Folie à Deux,” Todd Phillips’ musical sequel to his 2019 Golden Lion-winning “Joker,” starring Gaga and Phoenix, is expected to be a strong contender in the competition.
Pablo Larraín’s biopic “Maria,” starring Jolie as Maria Callas, is also anticipated to be a highlight of the festival.
In addition to the anticipated titles, Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer,” a William S. Burroughs adaptation, is believed to have secured a competition berth at Venice.
Daniel Craig stars as the author’s alter ego, an American expat in Mexico battling heroin addiction, with Drew Starkey from “Outer Banks” playing a younger man who becomes intensely infatuated with him.
Also slated for Venice is the Jon Watts-directed action comedy “Wolfs,” featuring George Clooney and Brad Pitt as two solitary fixers forced to collaborate on concealing a high-profile crime.
Ron Howard’s survival thriller “Eden” rounds out the mix, starring Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby, and Daniel Brühl.
Johnny Depp might also make a return to Venice, this time as the director of “Modì,” his biopic on Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani. The film stars Riccardo Scamarcio as the painter and Al Pacino as Maurice Gangnat, an international art collector.
The 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival is scheduled to run from August 28 to September 7. The complete lineup of films will be officially announced on July 23.
