There has been a lot of buzz in Hollywood about Jenna Ortega potentially being cast in the upcoming sequel to Tim Burton’s cult classic, Beetlejuice.
According to The Ankler’s Jeff Sneider, Ortega may even play the daughter of Winona Ryder’s iconic character, Lydia Deetz.
The Hollywood Reporter has also supported this claim, further fueling speculation about the young star’s involvement.
Sneider believes that the sequel, which has been in development limbo for years, is finally a go.
The Ankler claims that Burton plans to reunite the original cast, including Ryder, Michael Keaton, and Catherine O’Hara, for the long-awaited follow-up.
With this star-studded lineup, it seems that Ortega will be jumping from the Addams Family fire pan to the Deetz fire, but it’s undoubtedly an exciting opportunity for the young actor.
In fact, reports suggest that financial support for the sequel has already been secured from Brad Pitt’s production house, Plan B, adding even more star power to the mix.
Ortega has previously worked with Burton on his Netflix series Wednesday, so the two are already well-acquainted.
The 20-year-old actor has also starred in several other popular Netflix shows, including You, Jane the Virgin, Scream, and Scream VI.
Burton himself has been cautiously optimistic about the possibility of a Beetlejuice sequel, telling Deadline that “nothing is out of the question.”
He went on to say that he only knows if he’s making a film when he’s actually on set, and that he prefers to let ideas grow naturally rather than make any bold statements upfront.
Ryder, who played the original goth girl, Lydia, recently confirmed to USA Today that she’s hopeful about reprising her role.
“The only way we would do it is if everything was perfect and we had all the people – obviously Michael [Keaton] and obviously Tim [Burton],” she said. With the original cast members on board, and Ortega potentially joining the fray, it seems that Beetlejuice fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.
All in all, it’s an exciting time to be a Beetlejuice fan, with a highly anticipated sequel finally looking like a real possibility.
With Jenna Ortega potentially taking on a major role alongside the original cast, the sequel is sure to attract a whole new generation of fans, just as the original did back in 1988.
It’s still early days, but for now, fans can rest easy knowing that the project is finally in motion after years of speculation and anticipation.