A Third ‘Beetlejuice’ Movie Looks Tougher Than Ever, and the Sequel’s Writers Explain Why

When Tim Burton finally brought the Ghost with the Most back to theaters, it felt like a miracle for fans who had waited decades. The long-gestating follow-up reunited Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara with the director who made the original a gothic comedy favorite. For a while, the natural question was whether the franchise could keep going.

That question has become a lot more complicated. The sequel arrived in theaters on September 6, 2024, and delivered the kind of box office numbers that usually guarantee a conversation about the next installment. But the story since then has been defined by loss, uncertainty and a director who hasn’t promised anything.

‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘ opened to an estimated $145 million worldwide, with about $110 million of that coming from North America. Its domestic debut outgrossed the entire global run of the 1988 original, and Dark Horizons noted it was the second-best September opening ever, behind only ‘It.’

The film brought back Keaton, Ryder and O’Hara and added Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe to the cast. It was written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the duo behind ‘Wednesday,’ and the pairing with Ortega helped pull in younger audiences.

Now the writers have weighed in on the possibility of a trilogy. In an exclusive interview celebrating the 25th anniversary of ‘Smallville,’ Gough and Millar spoke to ScreenRant about what a third movie would take. Gough said that you never say never and that the decision belongs to Burton, but that “with Catherine’s passing, it’s certainly harder.”

Millar echoed the point, and the pair essentially acknowledged that O’Hara’s absence is the biggest hurdle. O’Hara died in January at the age of 71. She played Delia Deetz, Lydia’s stepmother, and her presence was a major part of what made the films work.

The writers have consistently framed any future project as Burton’s call. After the sequel’s release, Gough said a third film would come down to Burton and when he is ready to engage with the idea, while Millar noted that the studio likely wanted one but that it would be up to Burton, Keaton, Ryder and O’Hara.

That puts the franchise in an open-ended spot. Burton has shared that he currently has no plans for a third installment, though Warner Bros. teased in 2025 that talks about one were happening. The latest remarks suggest that neither Burton nor any other cast members are involved in whatever plan the studio may have.

For many viewers, the debate is no longer just about whether another movie could be made, but whether it should be made without O’Hara. The characters she brought to life were central to the story that Burton and the writers wanted to tell. When Burton first approached Gough and Millar about the follow-up, he wanted the story to center on the characters played by Keaton, Ryder and O’Hara.

That context makes the current uncertainty feel heavier. The sequel gave fans a second chance to spend time with the Deetz family and the afterlife’s most chaotic troublemaker, and its success showed there was still plenty of love for the world Burton created. It also means that any decision about a third film would have to account for the actor who helped define both films.

THE JUICE IS LOOSE in the first look at Michael Keaton as his iconic character Beetlejuice is called upon once again in the new trailer for #BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice.💚 🍿The spooky sequel hits theaters on Sept. 6. https://t.co/p6w5ARKDCK

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) March 21, 2024

For now, there is no confirmed plan, no announced script and no word from Burton that he wants to return. The writers created ‘Wednesday’ alongside Burton, and its third season is set to star Ryder. If a third film ever does arrive, it will likely come only when Burton feels ready to move forward.

Until then, fans can revisit both movies and decide for themselves whether the story feels complete. After all, the franchise has always had a way of coming back from the dead when least expected.

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