Why Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse is only explained by writers for 17 minutes

This article contains spoilers for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice co-screenwriter Miles Millar explains why Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse is for a limited time only. In Tim Burton’s original 1988 movie, The titular character only has 17 minutes of screen timeof which he wears his iconic striped suit for two minutes. The approach to keep Betelgeuse as a side character did not change for Beetlejuice BeetlejuiceWith Keaton appearing in the same time frame.

Talk to Variety Along with his screenwriting partner Alfred Gough, Millar explains why Betelgeuse appeared in the movie for such a short time. Initially reminding the audience that he is not the main character of the movie, Millar also said that it was a challenge to know exactly when to highlight the titular bio-exorcist and how to find a balance between him and the main character of the movie. Check out what he had to say on the matter below:

He’s such a fun character to write, but…he’s not the protagonist of the movie. It was difficult in terms of keeping the right balance. People love him so much. It’s called ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ for a reason, so he has to be essential to the movie. It makes you think harder about what the scenes will be, and what his contribution to the movie is. It feels incredibly satisfying, and like you’ve spent a lot more time with it than you think. This is the magic trick of this character.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Stays true to how Tim Burton envisioned the character

Keaton is still a supporting character in the sequel.

Despite having a more significant presence in the sequel’s story, Tim Burton, along with Gough and Millar, did not change the fact that Betelgeuse was not the main character in the sequel. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Provides a backstory for the bio-exorcist, mainly explaining how he died at the hands of his ex-wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci), who was brought back to life. however, This is not done to the detriment of the main protagonist of the sequel.

The sequel focuses mostly on Lydia Detz’s (Winona Ryder) relationship with her stepmother, Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and teenage daughter, Astrid (Jena Ortega), who does not believe in the supernatural. Lydia is still experiencing some form of trauma From her encounter with Betelgeuse in the original movie. However, he takes a back seat while events occur in the afterlife until much later in the movie when Astrid gets into trouble.

Only when this happens, Lydia calls out the name of Betelgeuse three times, in the hope that he will be able to fix the situation that her family is now in, but even then, the heart relationship between Lydia and her daughter does not hide. Which is at the front and center of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Despite the title promising double the Betelgeuse, the screen time of the character stays in the same way as the original, even if it appears that he has a greater presence in the sequel than in the first movie.

Source: Variety