Will Jeffrey Jones appear in Tim Burton‘s hugely anticipated Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?
That’s the question on the mind of eagle-eyed fans of the upcoming Warner Bros. film’s trailer, who noticed a glimpse of the actor on a headstone in a funeral scene. But a rep for Jones confirms to The Hollywood Reporter that the actor does not appear in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The funeral is attended by Catherine O’Hara (playing Delia Deetz, second wife of Jones’ Charles Deetz in the original film), Winona Ryder (Lydia Deetz, Charles’ daughter with his first, deceased wife) and Jenna Ortega (a newcomer to the franchise, who plays Astrid Deetz, Lydia’s teenage daughter).
In Beetlejuice, Charles is a big-city real estate developer who buys a Connecticut home after the previous owners — the Maitlands, played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis — die in a car accident.
The Maitlands soon learn they are ghosts and watch in horror as Delia proceeds to turn their quaint farmhouse into a gaudy, postmodern funhouse.
Charles’ death in the sequel did not necessarily rule out his participation in the sequel, as the film follows the Maitlands’ misadventures of the afterlife.
A gifted physical comedian, Jones, 77, stole scenes in a string of films throughout the 1980s, most notably playing Emperor Joseph II in 1984’s Amadeus and Ed Rooney, the principal in 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Working with Burton, he followed Beetlejuice with performances in 1994’s Ed Wood and 1999’s Sleepy Hollow.
He worked far less in the years following a 2003 plea of no contest to hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose naked for photos, for which he was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to register as a sex offender.
But Jones did play real-life newspaperman A.W. Merrick on HBO’s Deadwood throughout the show’s run from 2004 to 2006. He reprised the role for Deadwood: The Movie in 2019 — but amid a more sensitive, post-#MeToo climate, his presence in the narrative was greatly reduced.
Despite the absence of Jeffrey Jones in the highly-anticipated Beetlejuice sequel, fans are eagerly waiting for the release of the film. The trailer, which features a funeral scene, sparked speculation about Jones’ involvement, as some viewers claimed to have spotted him on a headstone. However, a representative for Jones has confirmed that he does not appear in the sequel.
The funeral scene in Beetlejuice is attended by familiar faces from the original film, including Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz, Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, and newcomer Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz. The absence of Charles Deetz, played by Jones in the original film, raises questions about his character’s fate in the sequel.
The original Beetlejuice followed the story of the Maitlands, portrayed by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, who become ghosts after dying in a car accident. Charles Deetz, a real estate developer, purchases their former home and is unaware of their presence as he and his wife, Delia, transform the house into something unrecognizable to the Maitlands.
While Charles’ death in the sequel does not necessarily exclude him from appearing in the afterlife misadventures of the Maitlands, it seems that his character will not make an appearance. This leaves fans curious about how the story will unfold and what challenges the Maitlands will face without his presence.
Jeffrey Jones, known for his comedic talent, delivered memorable performances in various films during the 1980s. His roles in Amadeus and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off showcased his versatility as an actor. Collaborating with Tim Burton, Jones continued to impress with his performances in Ed Wood and Sleepy Hollow.
However, Jones’ career took a downturn following a legal controversy in 2003. He pleaded no contest to charges of hiring a minor for inappropriate photographs, resulting in probation and registration as a sex offender. Despite this setback, Jones managed to secure a role in HBO’s Deadwood, but his presence in the show’s 2019 movie adaptation was significantly reduced in light of the #MeToo movement.