Summary

• Keaton's return as Beetlejuice in a sequel is exciting for fans of the original movie after his recent disappointing franchise returns.
• Despite past letdowns, Keaton's limited screen time request for Beetlejuice 2 promises a proper return to this iconic role.
• The new Beetlejuice film could finally showcase Keaton's talents properly and potentially lead to more sequels in the future.

Michael Keaton is returning to an iconic role with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and I really hope that it goes better for him than the last two times he's returned to major franchises. It's been 36 years since audiences last saw Keaton play Beetlejuice in Tim Burton's original movie. Although he's more famous for playing Batman, his return in Beetlejuice 2 brings him back to his original franchise role. Whether you only watched the 1988 movie for the first time recently or have been a fan for decades, the chance to see Keaton play Beetlejuice again is quite exciting.

Part of the reason why I'm ready to see Michael Keaton's Beetlejuice again in a sequel is because of how hesitant he's usually been to being part of franchises. Batman Returns is his only proper movie sequel so far, and he's only returned to one other role before Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Keaton understands the particular appeal of Betelgeuse so well that he even had the condition of limiting his screen time if he was going to return for a sequel. Amid the anticipation of seeing him return, I hope Beetlejuice 2 pans out better than his last two franchise returns.

Michael Keaton's Marvel & DC Franchise Returns Didn't Go As Planned

He Returned To Familiar Roles Twice Recently

Michael Keaton let down his guard when it came to franchises in the years leading up to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. This meant returning to the universes of Marvel and DC and playing characters from his past. It began with Michael Keaton's return as Vulture in Morbius' post-credits scene after debuting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming. He then returned as Batman in The Flash, reprising his iconic superhero role. Both appearances were made possible through the multiverse and promised more of him in the roles.

Michael Keaton was set to return as Batman in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and Batgirl, but those plans were scrapped.

The problem with Michael Keaton's recent franchise returns is that neither movie met expectations. Morbius was a critical and financial failure, and The Flash's box office was one of the biggest flops of 2023. These performances are not Keaton's fault by any means, as his roles were constantly changing and being reshot. Morbius completely changed the context of his appearance, while The Flash changed its ending so he wasn't the universe's new primary Batman. But they still give him a poor recent track record when it comes to returning to known franchises, as he is doing with Beetlejuice soon.

Michael Keaton's Past Franchise Returns Were Disappointing

The Movies Wasted Him

Box office performances and critical reviews aside, I was still fairly disappointed with how Michael Keaton's past franchise returns handled him. Sony's decision to show Vulture in Morbius' trailers teased that he could be more than just a cameo. He was ultimately in the film for only a few seconds, and the post-credits scene is unlikely to ever be paid off at this stage. Keaton's performance as Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming is still one of the best for an MCU villain in my opinion, so it was frustrating to see him so underutilized in a confusing multiverse cameo.

Instead of being a grand return, it's an unsatisfying send-off

The Flash gave Keaton more to do as Batman without question. He gets a few action sequences and a minor character arc as he decides to suit back up. However, part of what made Keaton's return so exciting was the idea that it was just the beginning of him playing Batman in several more projects. The Flash proved he still is a great Batman, but DC went in a different direction. I can't necessarily blame them after The Flash's box office and handing James Gunn the reins. But instead of being a grand return, it's an unsatisfying send-off for him.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Looks Like A Proper Michael Keaton Sequel

Keaton's Return Can Make Up For Past Mistakes

Luckily, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice appears to be the type of franchise return that Michael Keaton deserves. He might still have limited screen time per his request, but Burton will surely get the most out of whatever scenes Keaton has. I'm far from a die-hard Beetlejuice fan, but I've been impressed by the trailers and how much fun he seems to be having playing Betelgeuse once more. It looks like Keaton effortlessly slid back into this part and is doing everything in his power to make Beetlejuice Beetlejuice a worthwhile sequel for him and the audience.

If the marketing is indicative of what the final product will be, Beetlejuice 2 can be the franchise return that Keaton has been searching for during recent years. There is already teases of how Beetlejuice 3 could happen and bring him back once more. With the movie's original success and growing fandom over the years, there is reason to believe that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be a major hit. In that case, I'll be glad to see a franchise finally use Michael Keaton properly and earn his return after Morbius and The Flash.