Beetlejuice Beetlejuice by Tim Burton will have the honour of opening the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival, which will unspool on the Lido from 28 August-7 September 2024, under the directorship of Alberto Barbera. The new film by the visionary US helmer will be world-premiered out of competition on 28 August in the Sala Grande. The movie will be released in Italian theatres on 5 September, distributed by Warner Bros Pictures.

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks the long-awaited return of one of the most iconic characters from Tim Burton’s films, but is happily also a confirmation of the extraordinary visionary talent and masterful craftsmanship of one of the most fascinating auteurs of his time,” declared Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera. “The Venice Biennale is honoured and proud to be hosting the world premiere of a work that features a surprising whirlwind of creative imagination, and boasts an exhilarating and dazzling pace.” Tim Burton stated: “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.”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the highly anticipated sequel to the multi-award-winning Beetlejuice (1988), and sees Oscar-nominated director Tim Burton and Oscar-nominated actor Michael Keaton team up once again. Keaton returns as the iconic title character, alongside Oscar-nominated thesp Winona Ryder in her role as Lydia Deetz and two-time Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz. They are joined by new cast members Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti (in his feature-film debut), Emmy-nominated Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter Astrid, and Oscar-nominated Willem Dafoe.

After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter Astrid discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Tim Burton directs the film from a screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (the series Wednesday). The producers of the movie are Marc Toberoff, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tommy Harper and Tim Burton, with Sara Desmond, Katterli Frauenfelder, Gough, Millar, Larry Wilson, Laurence Senelick and Brad Pitt serving as executive producers.

In 2007, the Venice Film Festival handed Tim Burton (whose most notable works include Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, presented at Venice, Ed Wood, Corpse Bride, also presented at Venice, Alice in Wonderland and Dumbo) the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 64th edition of the gathering.