One of the most anticipated films of 2024 is Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel to the smash hit ‘Beetlejuice’ which is entitled ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ which is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 6th.
The film stars Jenna Ortega who will play the daughter of Lydia Deetz, played by Winona Ryder.
“I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but I am Lydia Deetz’s daughter, so I’ll give that away,” Ortega said of her role, during an interview with Vanity Fair. “She’s weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume, I would say. The relationship between Lydia and Astrid, my character, is very important. And it’s also really strange because it’s a lot of catching up and putting the pieces together of what’s gone on in Lydia’s life since, which is nice, I think, for anybody who loves the character and is excited to see her again.”
Ortega also spoke about the dynamic between her character (Astrid) and Lydia.
“She doesn’t go to the opposite end of the spectrum, but any kid who becomes a teenager wants to be removed from their parents” she said. “I think they instantly just fight whatever it is that their parent loves. So I think it’s a little bit of that. I’m not wearing pink and a cheerleader, but I am a little bit against my mom’s history or past. We butt heads quite a bit.”
Ortega also spoke about some of the behind-the-scenes work, such as the rebuilding of the original film’s fictional town Winter River, Connecticut in the state of Vermont.
“They rebuilt Winter River, which was insane” she said. “All of the locals were so excited. But we were able to finish all of our Winter River stuff so that when the strike hit, they could take it all down,” she recalled. “I remember it being super-weird energy on set the last week. For a lot of the cast that was revisiting Vermont, it felt weird to rush such a sentimental moment for them, seeing that house again and being together and calling each other by the same names again.”
“But for the most part, up until the very last day, I feel like the shoot was a celebration of everyone being back together and doing practical effects again. It was probably the happiest I had ever seen Tim on a set, where he’s clapping at the monitor and shouting and laughing, which was really, really endearing.”
