Tim Burton's Beetlejuice had its world premiere tonight as the opening film of the Venice Film Festival, with a four-plus minute screening of The Ghost with the Most Haunted Man at the Sala Grande.
When the film ended, the audience applauded enthusiastically for four minutes and 35 seconds to the closing song. Unlike the applause in Cannes, there were no speeches from the cast or creators, which could have increased the overall volume of the audience's applause.
Joining Burton tonight was Michael Keaton, reprising his otherworldly role 36 years after the original supernatural comedy (now a classic) first came out, along with other stars including Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe.
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After an enthusiastic reception to the film's press screening that day, Burton told reporters that he couldn't position the original film as “anything other than personal to me. So being able to work with Michael and Winona and Katherine again after all these years, and then working with new people like Jenna, Monica, Justin and Willem, makes it even more personal and special. So this has been a very personal project for me.”
“To say it's unique is an understatement,” Keaton said of the film.
Regarding the possibility of a third film, Burton mused, “You do the math. It took me 35 years to make this one. I'll be over 100 by the time I make another one. Maybe medical science will make it possible, but I don't think so.” In response, Keaton joked that Beetlejuice doesn't age because he's dead.
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Beetlejuice 2 begins with three generations of the Deetz family returning home to Winter River after an unexpected tragedy. Haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia (Ryder)'s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter Astrid (Ortega) discovers a mysterious model of the town in the attic, accidentally opening a portal to the afterlife. Trouble ensues in both worlds, and when someone utters Beetlejuice's name three times, it's only a matter of time before the mischievous demon returns to wreak mayhem of his own.
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The Warner Bros. film will be screened out of competition at Venice and will begin its international release on September 4, with a North American release date of September 6.
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