WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Beetlejuice 2 (2024)!In the director’s commentary forBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton reveals that he has a hidden cameo in the hit 2024 movie, and it’s certainly not a role that would be expected for the gothic horror filmmaker. Thecast ofBeetlejuice 2reunites Tim Burton with the 1988 original movie’s actors Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, as well as other frequent collaborators like Danny DeVito and Jenna Ortega. With plenty of big names already headlining Warner Bros’ 2024 box office hit,the all-star cast is augmented further with Burton himself playing a notable role.
While Tim Burton is more renowned for his directing, writing, animation, and producer credits, he has ventured into acting on a few occasions since the start of his career. From voice roles in short films to on-screen cameos in cult movies,the majority of his acting pursuits have been in uncredited appearances, with the exception ofBurton’s cameo in 1992’sSingles. The uncredited nature of his cameos often makes them more difficult to find in his movies or other projects, which happens to be the case for Burton’s surprising cameo inBeetlejuice 2.
Tim Burton Voices Baby Betelgeuse In Beetlejuice 2
Burton Provides The Noises & Voice Of Betelgeuse’s Demonic Baby Form
The digital release ofBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceincluded special features with a director’s commentary by Tim Burton, in which the filmmaker disclosed plenty of behind-the-scenes secrets and new details about the long-awaited sequel. In one of the commentary’s most shocking revelations,Tim Burton confirms that he provided the voice and noises for Baby Betelgeuse.Beetlejuice 2’s demonic Baby Betelgeuseis one of the sequel’s most frightening new additions, as it consists of an infant version of Keaton’s dead character with a pinstripe onesie, sharp teeth, a speedy crawling ability, and a taste for blood.
Tim Burton’s audio commentary is only available as a special feature on the digital, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD versions ofBeetlejuice Beetlejuice. The DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD formats are set to be released on July 10, 2025.
Baby Betelgeuse appears on two occasions; first, when Betelgeuse forces Lydia to birth the demonic infant during their “therapy session,” and again inBeetlejuice 2’s endingwhen Lydia has a nightmare about Astrid birthing the same baby. When Baby Betelgeuse is on screen, he’s accompanied by some disturbing snarling and growling noises, gnawing on flesh or lightbulbs, and, in Lydia’s nightmare, calling Astrid “mommy” in a garbled voice. While it might have been easy to assume that Baby Betelgeuse’s voice and noises were provided by the film’s sound effects team, Burton opted to take up the job himself.
Geena Davis Wasn’t In Beetlejuice 2, But One Major Twist Perfectly Honored Her 38-Year-Old Horror Movie
Geena Davis didn’t return in Beetlejuice 2 as Barbara Maitland, but the movie honors her with a reference to her 38-year-old horror classic.
Tim Burton reveals in his audio commentary that he decided to voice Baby Betelgeuse after already providing some guidance on how to make the infant’s noises. At first, he had intended for Michael Keaton to perform the baby’s voice, but Keaton suggested that Burton do it himself.Burton explains that he used to scare his own children when they were younger by mimicking the voice of the Sun Baby inTeletubbies, so he translated those noises intoBeetlejuice 2’s demonic baby.
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2 Voice Cameo Is Only The Third Time He’s Appeared In His Own Movies
Tim Burton Previously Appeared In Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure & Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children
Unlike other directors well-known for appearing in their own movies, such asAlfred Hitchcock’s famous cameosor Quentin Tarantino’s self-directed roles, Tim Burton has only inserted himself into his movies on three occasions. Before his cameo inBeetlejuice 2, the only Tim Burton movies that the director himself appeared in were his feature directorial debut,Pee-wee’s Big Adventure(1985), and his 2016 fantasy filmMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Thug in an Alley
Passenger on an Attraction
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice(2024)
Baby Betelgeuse
InPee-wee’s Big Adventure, Burton appeared in an uncredited role as a thug in an alley, who confronts Paul Reubens’ titular character while it’s raining. Over 30 years later,Burton had another self-directed cameoinMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Childrenas a passenger on an attraction, riding one of the amusement park rides in the movie’s big final battle at the boardwalk. Considering how memorable and extensive the two Baby Betelgeuse scenes are inBeetlejuice 2, Burton’s latest voice role is the most sizable cameo he’s had in one of his own movies.
Tim Burton Voicing Baby Betelgeuse Is The Most Bizarre Acting Credit Of His Career
Tim Burton only has 14 acting roles in movies and some short films, and Baby Betelgeuse certainly stands out as the most surprising yet amusing role for the director to take. In addition to his “thug in the alley” and “passenger on an attraction” roles in his own films, Burton’s acting history includes playing Brian in the 1992 movieSingles, in which another character refers to him as “the next Martin Scorsese.” Burton also played a corpse in the 1992 gangster movieHoffa, andan alien on the TV monitors inMen in Black 3.
Voicing Betelgeuse’s baby form now allows him to say that he’s technically portrayed the titular character.
Burton playing an alien inMen in Black 3is arguably his second most bizarre cameo, but Baby Betelgeuse now takes the cake. It’s surprising enough to have a demonic character making as many disturbing noises as Baby Betelgeuse, and it’s even more hilariously weird and fitting to have Tim Burton be the one providing them.Burton’s voice cameo is a great way of further embedding his own unique touch and love for filmmaking in every aspect ofBeetlejuice 2, and voicingBetelgeuse’s baby formnow allows him to say that he’s technically portrayed the titular character.
Tim Burton Also Has A Subtle Cameo In Beetlejuice 2’s Stop-Motion Scene
Tim Burton Was The Model For One Of The Plane’s Passengers
As it turns out, Baby Betelgeuse isn’t the only cameo that Tim Burton makes inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice. The special features forBeetlejuice 2’s digital release also include an extra breaking down the process of making the sequel’s stop-motion animation sequences. In addition toBeetlejuice 2’s returning sandworm, the animators went into impressive detail when designing the passengers on the plane Charles Deetz crashes in during the stop-motion flashback. While showcasing thevarious passenger heads that have been designed, one of them happens to be modeled after Tim Burton.
How Charles Deetz Died In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Charles Deetz’s death was confirmed in the Beetlejuice 2 trailers, but the sequel reveals wild details surrounding the character’s demise.
The special feature reveals that the chaotic plane ride is based on Tim Burton’s own “flight from hell” on a budget airline, so it’s fitting that the animators included his likeness for one of the passengers. Only the top of the Burton-like doll can be seen inBeetlejuice 2’s final cut, whichappears a row or two back from the kids fighting behind Charles on the plane. WithBeetlejuice Beetlejuicemarking Tim Burton’s triumphant return to his original filmmaking approach, a box office hit, and a critically praised horror-comedy all in one, it’s even more special that the director’s own voice and likeness are also baked into the sequel.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
