Beetlejuice 2 Adds Italian Star Monica Bellucci To The Regular Cast… While New Face Jenna Ortega Joins Veterans Michael Keaton And Winona Ryder
Beetlejuice 2 has added another high-profile actor to its already impressive roster of stars.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Thursday that Italian actress Monica Bellucci would star in the sequel, which will be directed by original director Tim Burton.
The 58-year-old actress is known for appearing in many critically acclaimed French and Italian films, though she has also worked on several English-language feature films.
She joins returning stars Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Michael Keaton, who reprise his role as the trickster ghost from the title.
Few production details have been revealed, but Bellucci is expected to play Keaton’s Beetlejuice’s wife.
International star: Italian star Monica Bellucci, 58, will join the cast of Beetlejuice 2, according to The Hollywood Reporter; seen February 24 in Paris
Love interest: Bellucci plays the wife of Michael Keaton’s title character Beetlejuice. The movie is out on September 6, 2024; still from Beetlejuice (1988)
Bellucci got her start as an in-demand model before transitioning into acting.
One of her first roles was as a bloodthirsty vampire in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1992 Dracula adaptation, and highlights include 2000’s Malèna, 2001’s Brotherhood Of The Wolf – which became one of the most successful French films of all time internationally – and the ruthless 2002 French drama Irréversible.
She made some of her most high-profile English-language appearances in The Matrix Reloaded and its sequel Revolutions (both 2003), and she appeared in the 2015 James Bond film Specter.
She currently stars opposite Toni Collette in the comedy Mafia Mamma.
New star Jenna Ortega previously revealed that she might have turned down her hit Netflix series Wednesday if she hadn’t had the chance to work with Tim Burton, and she’s set to reunite with him in the new movie.
She stars in Beetlejuice 2 as Winona Ryder’s daughter, who will also be back.
Catherine O’Hara, who hilariously played a sculptor with little respect for classical architecture, also returns.
She has experienced a career resurgence in recent years thanks to her critically acclaimed performance on the popular comedy series Schitt’s Creek.
In addition to Ortega, newcomer Justin Theroux will refresh the cast.
Screen star: Bellucci started out as a model before becoming a sought-after star of Italian and French films. She also appeared in The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions, as well as the James Bond movie Spectre; seen April 11 in NYC
Star power: Original stars Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton will return to reprise their roles. It is unknown if Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin will be back
Fresh Face: Newcomer Jenna Ortega plays Ryder’s daughter. She previously worked with Tim Burton on Wednesday; seen May 1 in NYC
Mystery man: Justin Theroux will also join the cast in an undisclosed role; seen on April 29 in Washington, DC
On Tuesday, Warner Bros. announced that Beetlejuice 2 will be released on September 6, 2024.
That date was originally set aside for Marvel’s horror superhero remake Blade, but was pushed back after persistent writers delayed pre-production.
So far, it’s unknown if original stars Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis will reprise their roles.
Beetlejuice 2 is being produced by Burton, along with Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B.