WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Beetlejuice 2!Long beforeBeetlejuice Beetlejuicecame to fruition in 2024, Tim Burton and Michael Keaton had been open to developing a sequel to the 1988 classic horror-comedy in the early 1990s. WhileBeetlejuice’s animated TV show spinoff provided a quicker follow-up to the hit story upon debuting in 1989,Burton and Keaton had still been looking around for a compelling script for a direct movie sequel. The director was handed various screenplays over the years, but themost notorious failedBeetlejuicesequel isBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, which dates back as early as 1990.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiianwould have followedBeetlejuice’s Deetz familymoving to Hawaii to develop a vacation resort, which they would discover is being built on an ancient burial ground. The film would then see Keaton’s Betelgeuse step in, awaken ancient spirits, and create plenty of chaos on the islands – most likely while donning a Tommy Bahama shirt. Perhaps unsurprisingly,Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiiannever made it into production, and it wouldtake 36 years forBeetlejuice 2to finally happenwith Burton, Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara returning.
Danny DeVito Listening To “Margaritaville” Is A Great Nod To The Failed Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian Sequel
“Margaritaville” Is One Of The Most Well-Known Beach Anthem Songs
ThoughBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiiannever happened,Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s soundtrackappears to pay homage to the unmade sequel. WhenDanny DeVito’s deceased janitor character is introduced in the afterlife, he’s seen using a Walkman to listen to “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffettas he walks into the custodian’s closet. “Margaritaville” has been one of the ultimate beach song anthems since it was released in 1977, and it feels pretty out of place for a ghost in the afterlife to be listening to inBeetlejuice 2.
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The Jimmy Buffett needle drop hit inBeetlejuice 2immediately conjured up images of aBeetlejuicemovie set on a beach, which is exactly whatBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiianwould have entailed. IfBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiianhad happened, there’s no doubt in my mind that “Margaritaville” would have been on its soundtrack, likely with a few other Jimmy Buffett songs being enjoyed byBeetlejuice 2’s charactersCharles Deetz or Betelgeuse himself. The tropical beach setting and Jimmy Buffett’s music are great juxtapositions toBeetlejuice’s macabre themes and aesthetic, which is why “Margaritaville” unexpectedly works so perfectly inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice.
It’s A Huge Relief That Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian Never Happened
2024’s Beetlejuice 2 Would Be Very Different If Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian Happened
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiianhad plenty of fun campy potential for the characters’ returns, but it could have easily fallen into the class of sequels that are quickly forgotten, don’t fare very well in theaters, and are widely panned by critics.Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiianwould have been a great one-off episode forBeetlejuice’s animated series, but frankly doesn’t have the same heart, emotion, and storytelling substance that a compelling sequel to Burton’s original movie requires. It’s very difficult to successfully follow up a beloved, unique horror-comedy, andBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiianlikely would have been too kitschy and parodic to work.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian might have prevented Burton from ever telling the deeply emotional, celebrated return to the Deetz family’s multigenerational story in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
IfBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiianwas released, regardless of whether it was met negatively, divisively, or positively, then 2024’sBeetlejuice 2wouldn’t be the same product, and perhaps might never have happened.Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiianmight have prevented Burton from ever telling the deeply emotional, celebrated return to the Deetz family’s multigenerational storyinBeetlejuice Beetlejuice. The 2024 sequel’s plot and character conflicts are made more impactful by the 36-year hiatus from Tim Burton’s macabre world, which wouldn’t carry the same gravitas had the 1990 screenplay gone into production.
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.
Beetlejuice
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton as the titular “bio-exorcist”, an obnoxious spirit who specializes in driving living occupants out of homes. When Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die suddenly, they pass into the spirit realm, and must stay in their home. However, in the living world, the Deetz family purchases the house and moves in, prompting the Maitlands to enlist the help of Beetlejuice to drive them away.
