Interview with Michael Keaton | Becoming Betelgeuse Again

Thirty-six years after the film that phonetically bears his character’s name, Michael Keaton steps back into the shoes of Betelgeuse for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. We spoke to him.

In the space of two years, Michael Keaton played the two most significant roles of his career: Betelgeuse in 1988, then Batman in 1989. In both cases, Tim Burton was behind the camera. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks their fifth collaboration – after Batman Returns (1992) and Dumbo (2019) – and the actor is still in awe of his filmmaker friend’s talent.

“His imagination is so vivid and extraordinary. His films are like nothing else,” says Michael Keaton. “When we work together, we don’t know exactly what the outcome will be. Every experience is different, but they are among my favorites… maybe even my favorites.”

Lorsque nous lui faisons la remarque que ses interprétations de Bételgeuse et de Batman occupent également une place importante dans le cœur de nombreux cinéphiles, l’Américain qui a célébré son 73^e anniversaire jeudi acquiesce. « C’est vrai, ils sont énormes dans la culture populaire. Le premier Batman a révolutionné le genre du superhéros. Mais pour moi, ce sont surtout de beaux moments. J’adore jouer Bételgeuse ! »

Et pour quelles raisons ?

« Son côté chaotique, anarchique et irrévérencieux. Il me permet aussi d’improviser et d’être drôle. »

L’importance du scénario

En 2023, Michael Keaton a de nouveau enfilé le costume de Batman dans The Flash, d’Andy Muschietti. Ce dernier a mentionné en entrevue avec ComicBook.com que c’est avant tout l’« excellent scénario » qui avait convaincu l’acteur de reprendre le rôle. Lors de notre entretien, Michael Keaton a indiqué qu’il en était de même pour Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

« Nous nous sommes demandé pendant des années si nous devrions en produire un autre et je crois que le moment était venu. Le scénario était enfin à la hauteur, car les précédents ne saisissaient pas l’essence du film. Cela dit, ce n’est pas facile à écrire, parce que Tim et moi créons beaucoup spontanément. Ce sont les mêmes scénaristes [Alfred Gough et Miles Millar] that the series Wednesday and I think they did a very good job.”

One aspect of the new story that Michael Keaton appreciates, which revolves around the character of Jenna Ortega (Astrid Deetz, daughter of Lydia, played by Winona Ryder), is the respect for the original formula. Thus, the appearances of Betelgeuse remain limited.

“A lot of times, sequels make the mistake of adding more than you think people want, which ruins the recipe. I love doughnuts, but they don’t need more sugar,” he illustrates.

The origins of Betelgeuse

We were curious to know a little more about the origins of Betelgeuse, one of the great character roles of 1980s cinema. However, like many memorable creations, it cannot really be explained.

“I made him up, there’s not much more to say,” says Michael Keaton. “I was at home, alone, and I was looking for ideas and trying out different voices. Tim had told me about the striped suit, the white makeup and the dark circles around the eyes. He described him more as a thing than a person. The rest was just my imagination.”

He also said that there were several improvisational scenes in the 1988 film. They are rarer in the new installment, because the “script is tighter and the plot is more solid.” And once again, Betelgeuse is the disruptive element. In a way, what he wants forms the guiding principle, but he never succeeds in getting what he wants, fortunately.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is currently showing.

The Deetz family returns to the big screen

Delia (Catherine O’Hara)

The relationship between the eccentric visual artist and her stepdaughter, Lydia, has improved over the years, but the tragic death of her husband Charles plunges her into a strange ritual of mourning.

Lydia (Winona Ryder)

History repeats itself a generation later, as Lydia struggles to get along with her teenage daughter, Astrid. At the heart of the tensions: Lydia’s career as the host of the show Ghost House in which she communicates with spirits.

Astrid (Jenna Ortega)

Ostracized because of her mother’s fame, Astrid prefers solitude. In Winter River for her grandfather’s funeral, she will meet a boy who is just as isolated.