Ever since the original was released and proved successful, Warner Bros. wanted Tim Burton to make a sequel. Aside from Beetlejuice's name the Maitlands also say the word "home" three times to escape Beetlejuice, and it's the number of times they knock on the door to get to the After Life. You will receive a verification email shortly. He was the dazzlingly frenetic lead in Tim Burtons Beetlejuice, a largely improvised performance opposite fellow ghosts Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis. Keaton reels back in his chair, hands over his face. The gear turns, fish-tailing, kicking up ooze and stuffing. 2. 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition . Maybe it'll still be set in Hawaii? Speaking of merchandise, if you want your own "Handbook For the Recently Deceased" look no further than Etsy! Following his star-making turn in 1982 comedy Night Shift, the actor popped up in hits like Mr. Michael Keaton Once Explained Why He Left Hollywood for a While Burton did just that, and it worked a charm. Thus, we find it perfectly acceptable that Burton allowed star Michael Keaton to ad-lib his lines in the movie. Its like making movies with Tim [Burton], he says, those eyebrows rising in various directions. Yeah, probably. You know who else was almost cast in the film's iconic roles? So, here are 10 fascinating behind-the-scenes facts from the making of Beetlejuice. It was actually Dick Cavett who came up with the solution to this problem. Michael Keaton's Net Worth in 2022 - ClutchPoints Take a visual walk through their career and see 13 images of the characters they've voiced and listen to 4 clips that showcase their performances. I tell him I always thought it was a shame he didnt do more John Hughes comedies after Mr Mom. 4. Keaton played the editor of the Boston Globes investigative journalism team in the 2015 movie Spotlight, not the editor of the paper itself, as originally stated. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. One definitive example of this is the famous Day-O scene, which was apparently a more complex and problem-ridden process than you might have expected. Can he even remember any of that presumably pretty overwhelming decade? Think Robin Williams and Jim Carreys energy levels combined, then add a tonne of makeup and outlandish costumes and you have Keatons Betelgeuse. The market share is converted into a weekly sales estimate based on industry reports on the overall size of the market, including reports published in Media Play News. A change., I dont get the impression its a change hell necessarily repeat. Theres a plot hole in Beetlejuice, in that all the other recently deceased people in the waiting room look how they did when they died. Back when it was a horror film, Wes Craven was the studios first choice to direct. "Beetlejuice 2" a sequel to the 1988 Tim Burton horror-comedy hit always seems to be on the tips of everyone's tongues when they interview Michael Keaton (who played the "ghost with the . Some reports have the figure as high as 90% of his lines being ad-libbed. Naturally, Tim Burton and company needed to find someone else for the part and offered it to actress Catherine O'Hara but she initially declined Burton's offer. How many weeks do we spend doing the same thing over and over at work and being distinctively average? As you all know, most movies aren't filmed in the same linear sequence as the script; therefore, you might get the ending completed before the first scene is even shot. Michael Keaton Only Spent Two Weeks On Set Interestingly, despite Michael Keaton receiving top billing for Beetlejuice, he appeared in less than 20% of the movie and only rocked up around the 25-minute mark. So there was that. Commenting on this piece? The ad I saw in the paper was for Betelgeuse. He also tries to coerce Lydia (Winona Ryder) into marrying him. Academy Award nominee and Alec Baldwin has had a fantastic career, from his biting monologue in Glengarry Glen Ross to his twice Emmy-winning tenure in the 30 Rock cast, and, of course, his countless Saturday Night Live hosting gigs and hilarious random appearances. It's amazing. His co-stars were apparently reluctant too, with Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, among others, initially rejecting the opportunity. In The New Yorker, critic Pauline Kael compared the. All his good work, however, came crashing down in 2002 after he was nabbed for possession of illegal photos and the solicitation of a 14-year-old boy to pose for them. "I thought it would be much more interesting to take someone like that and make him into Batman. Its the life, he says, that he dreamed of as a little boy. So he would never do anything just for the money? Burtons world in Beetlejuice is typical of his early films: dramatic, odd, and otherworldly. A passage from Tim Burton: A Childs Garden of Nightmares - a biography about the filmmaker penned by Paul A. The Oscar-nominated actor, who turned 70 on. Anyone familiar with the controversial reception to 1992s Batman Returns knows that Tim Burton is no stranger to receiving some pushback from his distributors, and Beetlejuice was apparently no exception. June 16, 2022 . New York, Planes, Trains & Automobiles thats the movie I really wish Id been in! he says, citing the 1987 John Hughes classic starring John Candy and Steve Martin. There are a whole load of people who ran things that are long gone.. movie for Burton) and traded the New England setting of the original for a tropical one, in what eventually became known as "Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian.". Short of the Week - Describe What You Heard, On Baz Luhrmanns Romeo + Juliet and Growing Up, ORWAVs Top 20 Films of 2021: #1 Petite Maman, ORWAVS Top 20 Films of 2021: #2 The Green Knight. A scene-stealer that plays the title role in a film? Breaking news and interviews on comics, sci-fi, horror and more. Michael Keaton on Creating "Beetlejuice" (Dec. 24, 2014) - YouTube In Birdman, he plays an actor so neurotic, he ends up running through Manhattan in his underwear. Dealing with the mental side of things? Previously, he wrote for Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop. Just thinking about things, asking what you want, what you dont want, how am I going to get to there? Our DVD and Blu-ray sales estimates are based on weekly retail surveys, which we use to build a weekly market share estimate for each title we are tracking. Wait a minute, shes really smart and I need to talk to her about this, he says pointing at me, although I suspect this is more about John Hughes than my intellect. The film's success spawned an animated television series, video games, and a 2018 stage musical. How much did Michael Keaton make for Beetlejuice? For Better or Worse: How Has Marvel Changed Cinema? Neither actor is in the game for the money and tend to choose movies that interest them. Beetlejuice is kind of a strange name when you think about it. Don't miss a beat. But, look, there was some really horrible taste in the 90s, and I probably contributed to that, unfortunately. It was both, he says. Michael Keaton. 20 Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Michael Keaton - Eighties Kids Michael Keaton's Deceptively Normal 1980s Comedies: A Salute 15 Mind-Blowing Things You Didn't Know About Beetlejuice, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania Broke The MCU's Threequel Rule, Harry Potter's Luna Lovegood Actor Doubles Down On JK Rowling Defense, Why Obi-Wan Didnt Use Force Speed To Save Qui-Gon Jinn From Darth Maul. At the end of the day, Tim Burton decided to go with Winona Ryder after being wowed by her performance in 1986's Lucas. Jun 29, 2022; no comments . He can morph into pretty much any size or shape, swap voices in a split second, and go from charming to terrifying just as quickly. Not only was the name Michael Douglas taken, but Mike Keaton too, in the form of the famous broadcaster. Michael Keaton On Board For Beetlejuice 2 - giantfreakinrobot.com 16. His walk is reminiscent of a roosters strut, with his chest puffed out and a bounce on his toes; that swagger we saw in 2014s Birdman, for which Keaton won a Golden Globe as the eponymous former superhero actor, was not a put on, it turns out. There has been talk of a Beetlejuice 2 with Michael Keaton interested, but he has not officially signed on for a sequel. 5. Cinemablend is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. A year before he first donned the cape in Batman, this is truly Keaton at his wildest. The screenplay was written first by Michael McDowell, a sci-fi and horror writer, along with Larry Wilson. I actually thought [Birdman] might not work, but I also thought, even if it doesnt work, I want to be a part of this kind of creativity. A publicist comes in to tell us our time is up, but he waves her away. Presumably thats because he had to fight for space, whereas Sean was an only child and happy to fill the house with friends? One of them veers suddenly toward him, and though Adam jumps out of the way, the gear snags his trouser leg and shreds it. After Batman, Keaton took a series of notably unstarry roles a tenant from hell opposite Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine in Pacific Heights, a hammy Dogberry in Kenneth Branaghs Much Ado About Nothing. Keaton spent just two weeks shooting all of his scenes and has since called it the favorite role hes ever played. In one routine, he talks about how just a look from a stranger on the streets of New York can send him into therapy; in another, he imagines what it would be like if the cartoon strips that used to come with gum packets explored philosophical concepts. By Ben Brantley. A call from my editor: "They said maybe . Keaton put in just two weeks of work and created a classic performance. Brilliantly bizarre and overflowing with ideas, Beetlejuice offers some of Michael Keaton's most deliciously manic work - and creepy, funny fun for the whole family. I suppose you could say that's the thing I'm most proud of.". Beetlejuice is arguably Michael Keaton's best performance of his career & definitely his most unforgettable. Burton ended up defining his zany gothic visual style when he directed the film. He does it because he needs to, because hes not this gigantic strapping macho man, Burton later said. During production, Keaton improvised a lot of his dialogue. O'Hara and Welch were married in 1992, and have two sons, Matthew and Luke. Do you know any other interesting things about Beetlejuice? Although Keaton isnt as outwardly eccentric, he has a similar tendency towards unmediated stream-of-consciousness responses, and blunt plain-speaking both the opposite of slick Hollywood schmooze. Beetlejuice as played by Sammy Davis Jr.? RELATED:The 10 Greatest Lines From Beetlejuice. Catherine O'Hara Talks 'Schitt's Creek,' 'Beetlejuice' at USC Festival It's based on the Betelgeuse star which is housed in the Orion constellation and is the ninth brightest star in the night sky. Youre my hero, my best friend and I love you so much. Keaton, standing behind his son and moving excitedly from side to side, pinked with delight. I was hailed as a genius. Michael Keaton - Bio, Net Worth, Married, Wife, Divorce, Affair, Family 3. Just that make up job still gives us nightmares.. I had friends at school, but I wasnt really social. Jeffrey Jones built up quite an extensive career for himself, acting in movies such as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Crucible, Stuart Little, and Beetlejuice. Burton must've enjoyed the experience because he cast the actor in his next project, 1989's Batman. I am asked to interview Michael Keaton. One studio executive was interested in Sam Kinison, but Kinisons agent never even told him about the project. In addition to the beatnicks, a band of ancient Hawaiian ghosts are none to pleased about the hotel; they try to recruit Beetlejuice to frighten away Deetz and his developers, but he declines because his license to scare has been revoked. Beetle Juice - Awards - IMDb We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Adam flings himself suddenly to the right, but trips into the path of the gear. For this piece, let's take a closer look at. As The Playlist noted earlier this year, the original script included more gruesome violence and presented Michael Keaton's title character in this way: "He was envisioned as leather-winged demon whose humanoid form is that of a squat Middle Eastern man (subsequent drafts had him talking in a kind of African American pidgin dialect).". There was a scene at the table. Geena Davis was the only cast member who was actually eager to sign up for Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton had no clue what director Tim Burton was talking about when he was pitched Beetlejuice, so he turned it down several times. ORWAVs Top 20 Films of 2021: #8 First Cow, Why First Cow Was The Biggest Oscar Snub This Year, Bloodless Spectacle and Everyday Sexism in Silence of the Lambs, Best Films Never Made #40: George A. Romero's The Mummy, Best Films Never Made #43: The Beatles and Joe Ortons Up Against It, Best Films Never Made #42: George A. Romeros The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Best Films Never Made #41: J. J. Abrams and Ron Howards The Dark Tower, Best Films Never Made #39: Joss Whedons Wonder Woman, Best Films Never Made #38: Ridley Scotts Nottingham, Best Films Never Made #37: Neill Blomkamps Alien 5, Pandemic Panic: The Best Horror Films to Distract You Right Now, Official Competition Venice 2021 Review, People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan Review. Farfrom being the lead character, Betelgeuse doesnt even make an appearance until 25 minutes in. This gets him thinking about his son, Sean, now 34, when he was a boy. NEXT:Wait 'Til They Get A Load Of Me: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Tim Burton's Batman Movies. Actually, I say, I wrote a book about why those movies are the most important ever made. Your culture and entertainment cheat-sheet. And there was me getting bored, hearing the sound of my voice, seeing the same old tricks. It took barely two weeks for him to film. how much did michael keaton make for beetlejuice. Thus, an animatronic snake was utilized, which bore no likeness to him. Michael Keaton - CBS News We're pretty certain that no cast or crew member plans on meeting their future partner while working on a movie, but that's what happened to actress Catherine O'Hara and production designer Bo Welch on the Beetlejuice set. When you see [the movie], you understand probably why it was hard for him to explain, Keaton said of the beloved horror-comedy about ghosts and the obnoxious poltergeist, Beetlejuice. As such, it often takes a little bit of persuasion to convince these actors that a project is worth their time. I said, I wish I could do it. This concept came from the brain of Michael McDowell, who worked with Larry Wilson on the story. "When I did Night Shift, I improvised quite a bit because I would improvise at the audition so sometimes I would return to the original lines and then when I was on set I would improvise even more," he said. I do what interests me.. The actor gained enthusiasm for the character when he first arrived on the set in costume and the crew chanted, Juice! Speaking about the movie to Uproxx, cinematographer Tom Ackerman recalled the fond experience of working on it. how much did michael keaton make for beetlejuice For example, one person can be seen to have died from a snake bite while camping. American actor Michael Keaton has been honored with numerous awards and nominations for his work in film and television. This is not as much The Joker, played by Jack Nicholson, got, but it is quite a hefty sum, especially at that time. Where does it come from? "Michael Keaton is basically an ordinary guy, a regular human being," Burton, who reunited with his Beetlejuice star, said around Batman's release. Beetlejuice (1988) - Financial Information - The Numbers Hes your best friend, and hes your worst nightmare. how much did michael keaton make for beetlejuice Just pick a rack. And then I thought of an idea of teeth and an idea of a walk., Keaton informed Burton over the phone that he had something cooking which he believed could work. An afterlife waiting room abounds . Director Tim Burtons sophomore feature-length effort sees Academy Award nominee Michael Keaton at his kookiest, creepiest, and most unrecognizable in the (sort of) title role of a self-described bio-exorcist whom the recently deceased Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara Maitland (Geena Davis) mistakenly believe will help them rid their home of a snobbish family. Before Beetlejuice was settled on as the final name of the movie, there was a bit of back and forth regarding what it should be called. How can that be? I mean, if you look at the specificity of John Hughes direction in those movies, its incredible, he continues. Then the duo went their separate ways for decades. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin play the Maitlands, a cute, loving couple who live in a big, warm home that they dearly love. Tim Burton: 10 Behind The Scenes Facts About Beetlejuice - ScreenRant Betelgeuse is a crazy whirlwind that sweeps up the audience and co-stars alike, and behind all that elaborate makeup Keaton delivers a truly unforgettable 17 minutes of screentime. The movie didn't happen and we're a little bummed about it since it sounded insane. Two, Betelgeuse was meant to assault Lydia and not marry her as per the final version. Tim Burton: 10 Behind The Scenes Facts About Beetlejuice, The 10 Most Memorable Tim Burton Characters, Ranked, a lot of the visual effects had to be done in-camera, Tim Burton's 10 Best Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes, Wait 'Til They Get A Load Of Me: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Tim Burton's Batman Movies. Alec BaldwinbeetlejuicecomedyCultGeena DavisMichael KeatonTim Burton. how much did michael keaton make for beetlejuice. 13 Facts You Didn't Know About 'Beetlejuice' - HuffPost Michael Keaton made an icon out of the title character with less than 20 minutes of screen time. However, the screenwriter claims the script originally ended with Lydia perishing in a fire to spend the afterlife with Barbara and Adam, until others convinced them that such an ending might send the wrong message to younger audiences. He constantly switches accents and costumes, giving the feeling that he really has been everywhere at any given time. Burton directed the original and it is hard to imagine a Beetlejuice world without his iconic aesthetic involved somehow. Michael Keaton's career slowed down in the early 2000s In the 1980s, Keaton was everywhere. Because sales figures are estimated based on sampling, they will be more accurate for higher-selling titles. Keaton told CBS Sunday Morning that despite being offered $15 million to do Batman 3, he turned it down for one simple reason: it "sucked." When asked to elaborate, he stated, "Yeah, it just was. Rumour has it that when you read his articles, a magical unicorn comes and answers all of life's difficult questions. He has a strong interest in comic books, film, music, and comedy. Luckily, Beetlejuice would up winning that battle, but there was another person from the Beetlejuice cast who had his own concerns about the films potential. When Tim Burton first signed on to helm Beetlejuice, his top choice for the title role was Sammy Davis, Jr., of whom hed been a huge fan since childhood. (So, Jared Leto can suck on that when he complains about his Juggalo Joker being cut from David Ayer's Suicide Squad .) He and McWilliams divorced in 1990. List of awards and nominations received by Michael Keaton The space scenes and the sandworms were the only visual effects achieved in post-production. In 1988, one undead figure showed up in movie theaters and captured the imaginations of. Nowadays, Keaton cites Beetlejuice as one of the most fun movies that he ever made and a favorite of his filmography. News of actor Michael Keaton's death spread quickly earlier this week, causing concern among fans across the world. They love it so much, in fact, that when they die just 10 minutes into the film in a sudden car accident, their main purpose becomes to successfully haunt the house and rid it of its uncaring, obnoxious new owners. Burton met with Keaton, flew out to see OHara, and personally called Sidney in order to convince them to take their roles in the film. Hes a really nice guy, Michael, but its not even their name, I think?. Hes manic, a whirlwind of dark energy that seemingly never stops. Michael Keaton Improvised A Lot Of His Dialogue Despite playing the title character, Michael Keaton only has 17 minutes of screen time in Beetlejuice. but something about the character of Betelgeuse isnt dated at all. Seth Grahame-Smith, who wrote "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and Burton's version of "Dark Shadows," is working on the script, so whether the Ghost With the Most goes tropical remains to be seen. We refine our estimates from week to week as more data becomes available. Ryder was only 17 years old when she filmed Beetlejuice. The song by Harry Belafonte used during the dinner party possession scene is one of the most memorable moments in the movie: But viewers can also faintly hear film composer Danny Elfman singing "Day-O" in the opening credit sequence when the Geffen logo appears (Elfman's vocals were added during post-production): Also, when Glenn Shadix who played Otho, passed away at the age of 58 in 2010, "Day-O" was the last song played at his memorial service. There was a problem. Its all fun, man, Keaton says, and at a point when you dont have anything to prove? There's a lot of stuff that happened behind the scenes and many things that fans don't know about the movie. And it takes a lot of stumbling around, and it takes discipline.. I think she understands me." Beetlejuice. He was paid $5 million for his titular role as Batman.