Fans of the 1980s cult classic ‘Beetlejuice’ have reason to celebrate as Michael Keaton, the actor behind the iconic character, confirms that the upcoming sequel won’t be altered to fit into today’s politically correct culture. Keaton, who reprises his role as the mischievous ghoul in ‘Beetlejuice 2,’ made it clear that the character will remain true to his original form—irreverent, unfiltered, and unapologetically debauched.
In an interview with GQ, Keaton addressed the concerns that many longtime fans of the film might have, assuring them that the beloved character won’t be subjected to any unnecessary updates aimed at pleasing the so-called “woke mob.” “As for the character himself, there was not a ton of updating to be done there. Beetlejuice, debauched sicko in 1988, remains a debauched sicko in our more enlightened era,” Keaton remarked, signaling that the essence of the character will remain intact.
Keaton went on to describe ‘Beetlejuice’ as more of a force than a typical character, noting that he didn’t see a need to alter the character to align with modern sensibilities. “He’s a thing. He’s more of a thing than a he or a she; he’s more of an it,” Keaton explained. “And I’m not saying ‘it’ to be politically correct. I just viewed it as a force more than anything. I mean, there’s definitely strong male energy, like stupid male energy, which I love. You don’t want to touch that because it’s not like you go, ‘Well, it’s a new year and this thing would now act like that.’”
Keaton’s commitment to preserving the original spirit of ‘Beetlejuice’ is a breath of fresh air in an entertainment industry increasingly focused on reimagining characters and storylines to fit modern-day values. His stance stands in stark contrast to many recent Hollywood projects, where beloved characters and franchises have been reworked in an effort to cater to more progressive audiences—often with mixed results.
With the return of Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and other original cast members, Beetlejuice 2 is shaping up to be a nostalgic trip back to the quirky, gothic world that made the 1988 film a classic. Fans are eagerly anticipating the September 6 release, reassured that their favorite ghoul will be just as outrageous and irreverent as ever.
For those weary of Hollywood’s trend of sanitizing characters to meet contemporary standards, Keaton’s take on ‘Beetlejuice’ offers a rare promise: this sequel will stay true to its roots, delivering the same dark humor and eccentric charm that made the original a beloved staple of ’80s pop culture.
