2nd in the series we are discussing the eventual movie remake of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. This is possibly my favorite of his films and it was one that I loved as a kid but there were some things I didn’t understand fully until I was older. I even played the video game on Nintendo and watched the cartoon show that was on Saturdays.
Original Cast:
Alec Baldwin: Adam Maitland
Geena Davis: Barbara Maitland
A young, married couple who are killed in a car accident and become ghosts. Before death, they own a hardware store. Adam is a highly-skilled miniature model maker, while Barbara enjoys fixing items around their home.
Casting Notes: Middle 30’s to 40’s cute couple.
Winona Ryder: Lydia Deetz
Daughter of Charles Deetz (Delia is actually her stepmother), a goth adolescent. She is the only one of the family who can see the Maitlands and quickly befriends them — notably, she wishes she were a ghost like them. At the end of the film she was nearly forced to marry Betelgeuse.
Casting Notes: Excellent opportunity to either typecast an actress that already is Goth-like or to cast someone that would be totally unexpected.
Catherine O’Hara: Delia Deetz
Wife of Charles and stepmother to Lydia, as well as an aspiring (but pretentious) sculptor.
Casting Notes: Pretentious and hip. Sticks out like a sore thumb.
Jeffrey Jones: Charles Deetz
A previously cutthroat and successful contractor whose nerves went and now only wants "to relax and clip coupons." Charles moves his family to the countryside to recover.
Casting Notes: Aloof and bored to death with his wife.
Michael Keaton: Betelgeuse
Juno's former assistant, an obnoxious, perverted and chaotic "bio-exorcist" who carries a grotesque physical appearance. The character is a mystery; his age and even how he came to die remain unknown, but he refers to having lived through the Black Death.
Casting Notes: Crazy as can be but loveably funny at the same time.
Glenn Shadix: Otho
A friend of Delia. Otho is an interior designer and former paranormal expert.
Casting Notes: A creepy little smug man. Portly and coiffed, he is the only one who understands Delia.
Sylvia Sidney: Juno
The Maitlands' social worker in the afterlife. She recommends that the Maitlands do not accept the help of Betelgeuse.
Casting Notes: Could not care less about the Maitland’s or helping them transition. Hates Betelgeuse.
Hollywood Version:
Adam Maitland: James Franco
Barbara Maitland: Scarlett Johannson
Lydia Deetz: Selena Gomez
Delia Deetz: Cameron Diaz
Charles Deetz: Paul Rudd
Betelgeuse: Charlie Sheen
Otho: Jonah Hill
Juno: Diane Keaton
Version I Would Actually Enjoy:
Adam Maitland: Ed Helms
Barbara Maitland: Kristin Wiig
Lydia Deetz: Hailee Steinfeld
Delia Deetz: Juliette Lewis
Charles Deetz: Robert Downey Jr.
Betelgeuse: Russel Brand
Otho: Zack Galifinakis
Juno: Shirley MacLaine
Update Hurdles:
Animations:
Animations are seriously going to suffer from not having that "Tim Burton" touch.
Music:
I'm not sure this demon will get greenlit because of the lack of Danny Elfman music.