Beetlejuice was first released in the 1980s (Picture: Warner Bros)
There’s no denying that Beetlejuice has become one of the most beloved family films in cinema history, but it turns out that there were plans to make the whole thing much darker.
Tim Burton’s classic film first hit cinema screens in 1988, introducing us all to Michael Keaton’s incredibly zany bio-exorcist, alongside Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz, Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz.
It followed the story of a ghostly couple who become desperate to evict the new, living, tenants who have taken over their home – unfortunately, they get more than they bargained for after calling on ancient spirit Betelgeuse for help.
The trio, along with the acclaimed director, have returned for the star-studded Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sequel – which is slated to be released on September 6, with Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Defoe also in the cast.
Ahead of the release, it has been revealed that the script for the spooky classic was very different at one point, switching the prank-playing troublemaker’s efforts for something much more sinister.
According to Den of Geek, a second draft of the script was titled Beetle Juice and penned by scriptwriter Michael McDowell, and saw the family terrorized by a shapeshifting version of the character, and going so far as to sexually assault Lydia.
Michael Keaton played the creepy character to perfection (Picture: Warner Bros)
The original film was so much darker (Picture: Warner Bros)
As well as this, the outlet reports that he attacked her sister, Cathy – who was not in the final cut – and left her ‘torn and bloody’.
There was said to be a lot more grizzly focus on the death of the Maitland family, played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis in the original.
Thankfully, the cinema version was a little lighter and slightly less terrifying than the draft script…
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice appears to have continued the darkly comedic tone and will focus on three generations of the Deetz family on their return to Winter River.
Betelgeuse is released once more to cause chaos when the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened, with Lydia also forced to juggle wrangling her teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna).
Appearing at a press conference at Venice Film Festival, Tim opened up about his decision to get the bang back together again decades after the original, describing it as ‘a very personal film’.
‘The past few years I’ve got a little bit disillusioned with the movie industry I would say,’ he told reporters.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is released this week (Picture: Warner Bros)
Jenna Ortega joined the chaos (Picture: Warner Bros)
‘I just realized, if I’m going to do anything again, I just want to do it from my heart and [make it] something that I want to do.
‘I lost myself a bit, so for me this movie was a re-energizing. Getting back to the things I love doing, the way I love doing it and the people I love doing it with.
‘I realized that’s the only way for me to be a success, is that I have loved doing it. I got a little bit lost along the way, but now with this one I feel it didn’t matter how it turned out, I just enjoyed and loved making it with all those people.’
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is released in cinemas on September 6.
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