Warning: SPOILERS are ahead for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!
The anticipated absence of Charles Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was confirmed as the sequel revealed his death between the two films, drawing inspiration from Tim Burton’s personal fears. Prior to the sequel’s release, Burton had announced that Charles would not be part of the continuing story, a decision influenced by actor Jeffrey Jones’ legal troubles, including his 2002 arrest and status as a registered sex offender. The film unveils Charles’ demise in a stop-motion sequence, showing a plane crash into the ocean, followed by a shark attack that tears him apart. His spirit is portrayed in the Afterlife with a stand-in and an uncredited voice actor.
In celebration of the sequel’s much-anticipated debut, Entertainment Weekly conducted an interview with Gough, offering a spoiler-filled discussion about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. When discussing Charles’ death, Gough shared that it was inspired by one of Burton’s most vivid fears: surviving a plane crash only to be devoured by a shark. Both he and co-writer Miles Millar considered this idea to be “genius.” Gough explained:
“The animated sequence depicting Charles’ death is a manifestation of Tim’s own nightmare. He described it as: ‘In my worst nightmare, I survive a plane crash, almost drown, and then get eaten by a shark.’ We thought, ‘That’s brilliant. That’s how he’s going to die.'”
Understanding The Inspiration Behind Charles’ Death In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
A Signature Tim Burton Demise
Since the release of the first trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it was known that Charles was deceased in the sequel. However, the manner of his death is revealed in a fantastical way. Known for films like Sweeney Todd, Dark Shadows, Big Eyes, and Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, Burton’s creative vision is often marked by specific and grotesque imagery. Charles’ death not only reflects Burton’s personal fears but also aligns with the whimsical and macabre spirit that is characteristic of Burton’s films, enhanced by the stop-motion animation style seen in both Beetlejuice films.
Our Perspective On The Inspiration For Charles’ Death in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Tim Burton’s Creative Genius
Gough’s remarks on Burton’s concept for Charles’ death offer an intriguing glimpse into the creative process behind the script. It’s easy to imagine Gough and his writing partner Millar, who previously collaborated with Burton on Netflix’s Wednesday, pondering the ideal demise for Charles. Then Burton introduces his real-life nightmare scenario: surviving a plane crash only to be bitten in half by a shark—an apt and fitting end for Charles in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Source: EW
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- Comedy
- Supernatural
- Fantasy
- Horror
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
