February 13, 2012

Hopes for a sequel to the Tim Burton cult classic Beetlejuice have taken a huge leap forward with word that star Michael Keaton is eager to reprise the role.

Screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith tells Shock Till You Drop that he's already spoken with the Hollywood veteran and reports that Keaton is keen to once again portray the bio-exorcist in a follow up to the comedy.

Grahame-Smith tells the site he met with Keaton just last week to begin discussions over how to revive the undead character.

"It's a reality in the sense that I met with Michael Keaton last week," Grahame-Smith says regarding Beetlejuice 2. "We talked for a couple of hours and talked about big picture stuff."

The scribe says Burton is also excited about the prospect, though other projects currently come first. "It's a priority for Warner Bros," he says. "It's a priority for Tim.  Right now, I am writing an animated movie for Tim based on an idea of mine.  Then I adapt Unholy Night [based on the upcoming book].  The third I am hoping is Beetlejuice in terms of writing schedule."

Released in 1988, Beetlejuice co-starred Geena Davis and Winona Ryder in the story of a suburban family that finds itself living in a hilarious haunted house. Grahame-Smith says Keaton wants to make a movie that respects the love fans have for the original.

"He's been wanting to do it for 20 years and he'll talk to anybody about it who will listen.  I really told him, I have a huge reverence for Tim and a huge reverence for that film in general.  I don't think we should do it if we s–t on the legacy.  He agrees.  So, right now, it remains to be seen, I have a couple of story ideas, but we're very early out."

(Photo by PR Photos)

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