The 81st Venice Film Festival is set to open its doors with the world premiere of Tim Burton’s highly anticipated sequel ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’. Featuring an all-star cast including Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, and Monica Bellucci, the film also brings in Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe. As per Deadline’s report, this Warner Bros. sequel will debut out of competition on August 28 at the historic Sala Grande.
The screening is poised to mark a significant return to the glamorous red carpet ceremonies that Venice is renowned for. Last year’s Lido event saw a reduced star turnout due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, but this year promises to restore the festival to its former glittering glory.
Warner Bros. is gearing up for the global release of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ on September 4, just days after its grand premiere in Venice. Alberto Barbera, the chief of the Venice Film Festival, expressed his excitement about the film’s debut. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks the long-awaited return of one of the most iconic characters of Tim Burton’s cinema, but also the happy confirmation of the extraordinary visionary talent and the masterly realization of one of the most fascinating auteurs of his time. The Venice Biennale is honoured and proud to host the world premiere of a work that features a surprising swing of creative imagination and driving hallucinatory rhythm.”
Tim Burton himself echoed these sentiments, stating, “I’m very excited by this. It means a lot to me to have the world premiere of this film at the Venice Film Festival.” Burton, who previously won the Career Achievement Golden Lion in 2007, has a history with Venice, having showcased films like ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and ‘Corpse Bride’ at the festival.
. Michael Keaton, who stars once more as the iconic Beetlejuice, is also no stranger to the Lido, having appeared there alongside future Best Picture Oscar winners like ‘Spotlight’ and ‘Birdman’.
The plot of ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ revisits the charming yet chaotic Deetz family three decades after the events of the original 1988 supernatural comedy. Still residing in Winter River, Lydia Deetz (played by Winona Ryder) faces new challenges in life, particularly when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (portrayed by Jenna Ortega), stumbles upon the mysterious scale model of the town stored in the attic. Inadvertently, Astrid opens the door to the Afterlife, setting off a chain of supernatural events that leads to the inevitable: someone mentions Beetlejuice’s name three times, and the mischievous demon (Michael Keaton) is summoned back, ready to wreak havoc once again.
Aside from offering excitement for fans of Burton’s original film, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ provides a fresh narrative twist that will likely draw in a new generation of viewers. With intricate set designs that blur the lines between reality and the supernatural, and an ensemble cast bringing colorful characters to life, the sequel seems poised to become another classic in Burton’s illustrious career.
This year’s Venice Film Festival, running from August 28 to September 7, brings with it a diverse array of selections across multiple genres and countries. French star Isabelle Huppert will serve as jury president, adding her own star power to the prestigious event. The festival will also honor Australian filmmaker Peter Weir and American actress Sigourney Weaver with Golden Lions for Lifetime Achievement.
The Venice Film Festival, an annual celebration of global cinema, continues to uphold its reputation as a platform for artistic excellence and international collaboration. With this year’s opening film being a sequel to a beloved classic, the festival aims to blend nostalgia with innovation—presenting audiences with a mix of retrospection and forward-thinking creativity.
In addition to ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’, the festival will feature a variety of films set to compete for the coveted Golden Lion award, further cementing its status as one of the most significant events in the cinematic calendar. The 81st Venice Film Festival undoubtedly promises to be a landmark occasion, celebrating the magic of films and the creative minds behind them.
