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‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ cast and character guide

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After 36 years, the ghost with the most has risen from the underworld to the silver screen for another dose of demonic mayhem.

In Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (now in theaters), we see the return of the notable cast members from the 1988 classic, such as Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and  Catherine O’Hara. Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe appear as well as a fresh set of creepy faces for the spooky sequel.

Here’s a guide to who’s playing each character in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice

Michael Keaton; Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice.

 Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty; Warner Bros. Pictures


Michael Keaton returns as the titular undead conman with unimaginable powers of comic mastery. Just remember to spell his name as Betelgeuse (pronounced as, well, you know by now). Now, his ex-wife is stalking him and wants revenge. Furthermore, he longs for Lydia Deetz, who of course wants nothing to do with him. 

Even though he’s known for getting nuts in his movies, Michael Keaton is best known for his bird-themed films. Apart from Beetlejuice, he collaborated with Burton in his Batman duology and reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Flash. Then he continued his soaring streak by portraying the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming and as actor Riggan Thomson in Alejandro Iñárritu’s metatextual Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, which earned him an Oscar nomination. 

Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz

Winona Ryder; Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz.

Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty; Warner Bros. Pictures


Lydia Deetz, the strange girl who used to talk to ghosts, is now all grown up. After she is compelled to return to her childhood home after her father Charles’ passing, one event stirs a new rift between her family. And once her daughter, Astrid, gets caught up in the supernatural, Lydia must team up with her greatest adversary to get her back. 

Winona Ryder is the original goth girl who ruled the ’90s. Multigenerational viewers have grown to love her for her roles in dark comedies like Heathers, gothic films like Bram Stoker’s Dracula or spooky shows like Stranger Things, which is currently filming its final season. The release of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks the fourth collaboration between Ryder and Burton, following Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Frankenweenie.

Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz

Catherine O’Hara; Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz.

Mike Marsland/WireImage; Parisa Taghizadeh


Delia Deetz is as self-obsessed as any eccentric artist comes, and yet her blunt attitude and boldness makes her a delight to watch. Much like her step-daughter, Delia gets herself caught up in Beetlejuice’s freaky mayhem, but she will fight for her family’s safety, no matter who in power she has to talk to to get her way. 

Catherine O’Hara is one of the funniest talents currently working today, with an impeccable sense of comedy. She’s known for her roles as a sketch performer on SCTV, as Kate McCallister in the Home Alone duology, and her voice roles in spooky animated features including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Monster House, and Frankenweenie. Additionally, she frequently works with SCTV star Eugene Levy in various projects, most notably in Schitt’s Creek as the broke matriarch Moira Rose.

Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz

Jenna Ortega; Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz.

Mike Marsland/WireImage; Warner Bros. Pictures


Jenna Ortega is the Beetlejuice world’s latest addition. She plays Astrid, the teenager daughter of Lydia who rivals her mom’s sardonic personality in the original. In the film, Astrid is at a crossroads with her mom, not believing she can actually talk to ghosts. However, once she gets pulled into the afterlife, she realizes her mom might’ve been right about the supernatural.

Jenna Ortega is an emerging talent whose appearances in films and television are often in the horror and supernatural genres. After launching her career through the Disney Channel, Ortega hit the big time with horror flicks like Studio 666, the fifth and sixth Scream installments as Tara Carpenter, and Ti West’s X, all before landing the role of Wednesday Addams in the Burton-directed Netflix series Wednesday.

Justin Theroux as Rory

Justin Theroux; Justin Theroux as Rory.

Karwai Tang/WireImage; Warner Bros. Pictures


Rory is a self-serving producer of Lydia’s television show, who also happens to be Lydia’s boyfriend. Though Rory is shallow, the charisma Justin Theroux pours into him makes him as a welcome addition to the Beetlejuice universe.

Justin Theroux is a skilled actor who has a gruff voice and beady eyes that make him a wild card when he takes dramatic or comedic roles. He’s best known for playing Kevin Garvey in HBO’s The Leftovers, as well as films like Mulholland Drive, The Spy Who Dumped Me, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and the Zoolander duology as the Evil DJ. Additionally, Theroux has been a screenwriter, writing Iron Man 2 and serving as a co-writer on Tropic Thunder and Zoolander 2.

Monica Bellucci as Delores

Monica Bellucci; Monica Bellucci as Delores.

Mike Marsland/WireImage; Warner Bros. Pictures


Delores is the gorgeous zombie corpse ex-bride you don’t want to cross. She uses her abilities to suck the soul from your system, killing you, even if you are already dead in the afterlife. Delores is on the lookout for revenge on her hubby for reasons he probably deserves after stitching herself back together. 

Monica Bellucci is a model, actress, and everything in between. Bellucci is widely recognized for her extensive career in the field of Italian cinema. She has also appeared in American productions, including the Matrix sequels, Reloaded and Revolutions, as Persephone. Additionally, she appeared in the James Bond flick Spectre, and recently, the Toni Colette-led crime comedy Mafia Mamma.

Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson

Willem Dafoe; Willem Dafoe as Wolf Jackson.

Mike Marsland/WireImage; Parisa Taghizadeh


Wolf Jackson knows how to “keep it real” when it comes to tackling ghoulish crimes. Once a B-movie action star in life, as a ghost, Wolf Jackson is a detective in charge of investigating the abnormalities of the afterlife realm. As the Deetz family, Dolores, and Beetlejuice comes causing chaos in his town, Jackson is up to the task to bringing justice.

Willem Dafoe also keeps it real in every role he’s played. He has a long career in the film industry, notable for his roles in indie flicks and blockbusters. Comic book fans are familiar with him as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: No Way Home, and as Vulko in Aquaman. He is also known for his roles in Robert Eggers films, including The Lighthouse, The Northman, and the upcoming Nosferatu. Dafoe also recently starred in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness.

Danny DeVito as the Janitor

 Danny DeVito; Danny DeVito as the janitor.

Michael Loccisano/Getty; Warner Bros


When Tim Burton needs a creepy guy who can handle his macabre ideas, he calls Danny DeVito. As the janitor, Danny DeVito only makes a small cameo, but the duo’s work together extends beyond lifetimes. 

Danny DeVito’s work has spanned decades, with starring roles in the network sitcom Taxi and currently as Frank Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Batman Returns, Mars Attacks, Big Fish, and the live-action Dumbo remake are some of the Burton works that DeVito has appeared in. He is also known for his voice roles in family films, including Hercules, Space Jam, The Lorax, and Migration, as well as for starring in and directing Matilda.

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