Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has released to massive fan and critical acclaim, with the film receiving a score of 77 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and already having outgrossed the original film’s entire run.
One question on a lot of fan’s lips, however, is where the Maitlands from the original – played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis – are in the sequel.
The Maitlands are arguably the main characters for the first 1988 film and are undeniably the vehicle through which the audience is introduced to the world of the dead.
Their death, and subsequent ghosting, is also a major aspect of the original.
Despite this, and the return of stars like Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton, they were not asked to return.
This is explained in the film by Ryder’s charatcer saying the Maitlands found ‘a loophole’ that allowed them to move on, but actor Geena Davis has her own theory.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight earlier this year she said: “I’m not in the remake. Oh, you were expecting that I would be?
Geena Davis starred alongside Alec Baldwin in the first Beetlejuice movie in 1988 (Santiago Felipe via Getty Images)
” Yeah, no, you know what? Because my theory is that ghosts don’t age … Not that I have!”
Tim Burton has also commented on why he left the pair out of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and according to him it isn’t because of Alec Baldwin’s involvement in the death of Halyna Hutchins, or anything to do with ghosts not aging.
He told PEOPLE Magazine: “I think the thing was for me I didn’t want to just tick any boxes.
“So even though they were such an amazing integral part of the first one, I was focusing on something else.”
One viral tweet commented on this, saying: “Would’ve been nice to see Baldwin and Davis in Beetlejuice 2 but Davis at least has said it wouldn’t make sense because they’re supposed to remain the same age and frankly, thankful we didn’t get de-aged versions of them.”
Neither Davis or Baldwin made an appearance in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Brothers)
They followed up by replying: “Think the movie actually does a great job blending the digital effects with the practicals but seeing a yassified Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis would’ve been wildly distracting.
“I actually think the quiet acknowledgment that Adam and Barbara have moved on carries genuine reverence as opposed to the absolute horror show they do with Charles, which is good.”
Charles Deetz, Lydia’s father, is shown in the sequel as being killed off, with part of his body eaten by a shark.
