Beetlejuice Beetlejuice writer Alfred Gough explains how the movie’s wild and unpredictable ending is both a happy ending while also remaining hard to guess and on-brand for the franchise. The 2024 sequel sees an older Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) grapple with the long-lasting effects of her encounter with Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), the passing of her father, and her strained relationship with daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega). Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s ending sees reunions both good and bad, breaking out of toxic relationships while repairing others, and another whirlwind wedding.
With audiences finally reunited with the Deetz family and the Ghost with the Most, Gough opened up to Forbes about how they approached bringing the long-awaited Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to a close. Gough noted that with the sequel’s ending he wanted to retain the franchise’s wilder and crazier tone while also giving the cast the happier ending they deserve, as well as keep audiences guessing. Check out Gough’s full explanation below:
It’s a Beetlejuice ending, but it’s a happy ending. So, I think for us, that’s what we really wanted—that emotional mother-daughter story that really played through all the bonkers and sanity of the movie. And Beetlejuice, interestingly—for being an agent of chaos and being selfish and only really in it for himself—helps put this family back together.
One of our ambitions for the movie was that once you start watching the movie, you have no idea how it’s going to end. It goes to a place of absolute bonkers insanity, which is exactly right for a Beetlejuice movie. [At the same time], it’s the most joyous movie about death and grief you could imagine. Hopefully at the end will put a smile on your face, which is, I always think, the best thing a movie can do.
Where Does Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Leave Its Cast?
The Sequel Provides Long-Awaited Catharsis & Much-Needed Closure For Its Characters
With Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s conclusion, the Deetz family’s dynamic is healed, as Lydia is able to not only conquer her fears of Betelgeuse, but also break out of her hollow, manipulative relationship with Rory (Justin Theroux) and a television career she didn’t enjoy. She and Astrid are also able to heal over the passing of Astrid’s father, Richard (Santiago Cabrera), an event that strained their bond due to Lydia being unable to see him and help Astrid find closure. Even Delia (Catherine O’Hara), who dies due to a Cobra mishap, is reunited with Charles in death while being a celebrated artist.
Having harbored a 36-year-old fixation and strong psychic connection with Lydia, it is safe to assume he won’t give up on her just yet.
Betelgeuse, on the other hand, doesn’t get everything that he wanted. While he and the Deetz family are able to escape the grasp of his vengeful ex-wife Delores (Monica Belucci) with a sandworm gambit that claims both her and Rory, he is quickly banished to the afterlife after Astrid finds a loophole to nullify his and Lydia’s marriage pact. However, with Betelgeuse retaining his booming, more officially certified bio-exorcist business, and having harbored a 36-year-old fixation and strong psychic connection with Lydia, it is safe to assume he won’t give up on her just yet.
With Gough, Miles Millar, and Tim Burton setting out to directly address the lasting effects of the original movie in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it is clear that great care was taken in where they would leave these characters. With no clear plans for a third Beetlejuice movie, the sequel does take its many plotlines and leaves them in a place where viewers can feel fulfilled in knowing their characters have a happy conclusion. As such, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice can stand more firmly on its own qualities without leaving any loose ends.
Source: Forbes
