BEETLEJUICE (In Development)

• BEETLEJUICE

A long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel may finally be movingforward, Deadline reports. Writer/producer pair David Katzenberg and SethGrahame-Smith have just signed a two-year first look contract with Warner Bros.and among their first projects is a follow-up to the 1988 film.

Directed by Tim Burton, the original starred Michael Keatonas the titular Beetlejuice, a "bio-exorcist" (a ghost who removeshumans), who is unwittingly employed by a newly-deceased couple (played by AlecBaldwin and Geena Davis) to frighten away the family that has just moved intotheir would-be home. Winona Ryder starred as the daughter of the family in herbreakout role.

While the original film spawned a lesser-known animatedseries, a sequel was planned in the early '90s with the title Beetlejuice GoesHawaiian. Burton had planned to return as director, but the project failed todevelop beyond an initial screenplay. It is currently unknown whether or notKatzenberg and Grahame-Smith's upcoming script will have any crossover withthat original concept.

Grahame-Smith is one of the writers on Burton's upcomingDark Shadows and, while there's no confirmation yet as to whether Burton (orKeaton) might be involved with the sequel, it is stated that the film isplanned as a continuation of the original and not as a reboot.