As Jenna Ortega and Michael Keaton’s film Beetlejuice heads towards its global theatrical release, fans can’t contain their excitement. Recently, the Wednesday star made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and spoke about Beetlejuice 2, one of the most anticipated films of 2024, and revealed how she was terrified after meeting her legendary co-star Michael Keaton when he was dressed as the title character.
Talking about the first time he met Michael Keaton on the set of Beetlejuice, the 21-year-old actor explained:
“He came up behind me; I was getting a hair and makeup test, and I got tapped on the shoulder. I turned around and it was definitely a shock. He was like, ‘Oh, hey, I’m Michael,’ and he had mold coming out of his face and I kept it cool. And then it stayed cool until I met him a second time without hair and makeup because I forgot I’d met him before.”
The Fallout actor shared that she tried to keep it cool the first time she met Keaton, but things got a little uncomfortable the second time they met outside the hair and makeup unit. She admitted, “I re-introduced myself because I forgot we already met.” Fallon joked, “You didn’t meet Michael Keaton; you met Beetlejuice.”
According to the Miller’s Girl star, Michael Keaton is one of the finest actors and she is grateful to share the screen with such prominent faces of Hollywood. She further added that she never imagined this even in her wildest dreams. Jenna Ortega will play Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Lydia Deetz, played by Winona Ryder.
During a recent interview with respected media outlet Collider, Winona Ryder spoke about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, her co-star Michael Keaton revealed that the much-discussed sequel couldn’t have happened without Insidious 2 actress Jenna Ortega. When asked about the mother-daughter relationship between Astrid and Lydia, the 52-year-old actor said:
“Jenna is seriously one of my favorite people. She is the most genuine person I have ever met. We connected instantly, and once we started talking, the conversation went on endlessly. I often go to her for advice. (laughs) Honestly, I think this movie should be perfect because we discussed it for so long, and I realized we were waiting for her to be born and grow up.” She further explained:
“You know what I mean. She’s the perfect puzzle piece to add, and she completes it. I don’t even have enough adjectives. She’s an incredible person to work with and to know, and knowing her is like absolutely loving her. Then, with Catherine (O’Hara), I have empathy for her now because of my relationship with Astrid. It was a dream. It really was.”
Beetlejuice will hit theaters on September 6, 2024, more than 36 years after the original Beetlejuice film, which debuted on March 30, 1988.
Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’s star cast includes Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, Catherine O’Hara, Monica Bellucci, and Jenna Ortega. With an IMDb rating of 7.5 out of 10, Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice can be streamed on Prime Video.
Also read: ‘I dreamed that…’: Jenna Ortega reveals how she felt as a child watching Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice