Willem Dafoe opens up about 'not feeling pressure' when joining Tim Burton's highly-anticipated Beetlejuice sequel

Virgin Radio

8 Sep 2024, 08:56

Willem Dafoe has opened up about what it was like to work with Tim Burton on the new Beetlejuice movie. 

The sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, takes place 36 years after the original 1988 movie and sees Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara return to play Lydia and Delia Deetz. Michael Keaton is also back as the iconic meddling demon from the afterlife, Betelgeuse.

Willem Dafoe joins Jenna Ortega and Monica Bellucci as new additions to the cast in a sequel that sees Lydia’s life turned upside down when her daughter Astrid (Ortega) accidentally releases Beetlejuice once again. 

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Speaking exclusively to virginradio.co.uk at the premiere of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Dafoe revealed he was actually very relaxed about joining such a hotly-anticipated movie.

“I’m just coming to be part of it, so I don’t feel that kind of pressure,” he explained. “I’m here to have a good time and try to contribute something.”

While he didn’t feel the pressure, Dafoe speculated that director Tim Burton probably did. 

“I’m sure you know, when you revisit something that was successful, and people remember fondly, you don’t want to dirty that memory with a lousy follow-up,” he added. “So, I think Tim probably felt the pressure. But I think it’s a good follow-up.”

This is the first time Dafoe has worked with Burton and the first time he experienced the energy the director created on set. 

“He’s playful and kind of loose. He really encourages you to invent things,” the actor said. “He sets a good tone. He makes a world, and he lets you loose in it.”

Dafoe plays Wolf Jackson in the Beetlejuice sequel, a ghost detective who used to be an action movie star when he was alive, and the actor was delighted to bring this character to life.

He added: “It really gave me the opportunity to make fun of actors because in life before he died, [Wolf Jackson] was an actor. And yeah, it's kind of fun to play with the ego of actors, the narcissism of actors!”

We also caught up with leading actress Jenna Ortega, who opened up about her bond with Winona Ryder when filming the sequel. You can read more about that here. 

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now showing in cinemas.