Why aren’t Barbara and Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

As a longtime fan of the original “Beetlejuice” movie, I must admit that the sequel has left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, seeing Michael Keaton reprise his iconic role and Catherine O’Hara bring Delia Deetz back to life is pure joy. On the other hand, the absence of Barbara and Adam Maitland, played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, feels like a piece of the puzzle missing.

In the revival of “Beetlejuice,” many iconic figures from the initial film make their return, yet a few key characters are conspicuously missing.

In the initial Beetlejuice film, Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin portrayed Barbara and Adam Maitland respectively. Their characters meet an untimely end at the movie’s outset, leaving behind ghostly spirits confined to their own residence. When a novel family takes up occupancy, they are compelled to seek help from a potentially perilous demon in order to drive them away.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but feel nostalgic about the news that Beetlejuice himself, Michael Keaton, Lydia, played by Winona Ryder, and Delia, portrayed by Catherine O’Hara, are returning for the sequel under Tim Burton’s direction. However, I can’t help but wonder why the Maitlands, whose presence was so integral to the original, didn’t make a return too in this new chapter of the story.

We’re here to explain all.

Why aren't Barbara and Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

Why aren’t the Maitlands in Beetlejuice 2?

In the film, I found myself marveling at how Lydia elucidated the situation. She shared that the Maitlands managed to depart from their home by uncovering a clever “opening” or “way out”, which enabled them to transition to another realm, effectively moving on.

Instead of explicitly stating their new location, she leaves it uncertain, leading us to speculate that they might have transitioned into the peaceful realm often associated with the afterlife, commonly known as Heaven or the Eternity.

After understanding the reasons behind the absence of the Maitlands in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, according to the narrative, let’s delve into the question: Why did Tim Burton choose not to feature the Maitlands at all in the movie?

In an interview with People, the director expressed that for him, it wasn’t just about checking off boxes. Although the Maitlands played a significant role in the initial production, he was concentrating on another aspect instead.

Why aren't Barbara and Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

“For me, what made this sequel compelling was its exploration of time through three generations of mothers and daughters. This dynamic served as the core element, the heart, if you will. I wouldn’t have been able to create this story back in 1989 or whenever it was.” – Burton.

2024, when I heard that Geena Davis wouldn’t be returning as Barbara Maitland in the sequel, I couldn’t help but speculate on why she made this decision. She shared her own thoughts on the matter, too.

She told ET, “No, I’m not part of the remake. It seemed like you thought I would be, but here’s the thing: My belief is that ghosts don’t age… And as for me, let me make it clear, I haven’t aged either.”

Why aren't Barbara and Adam Maitland in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice?

Davis clarified that since our characters remain frozen at the moment of their death, it has been quite some time since we last saw them, to put it casually.

Alec Baldwin has not commented on his absence from the sequel.

In a refreshing twist, the story unfolds as Lydia and her daughter Astrid (portrayed by Jenna Ortega from “Wednesday”) venture back to the quaint town of Winter River, three decades since the initial film. Trouble finds Astrid in the spirit world, compelling Lydia to seek aid from none other than Beetlejuice himself.

In addition to the familiar faces from the initial cast, the sequel welcomes Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Danny DeVito as new additions to the star-studded lineup.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is now out in cinemas.

2024-09-06 10:49