What Winona Ryder leaked about a 'Beetlejuice' sequel

A sequel to the 1980s comedy “Beetlejuice” may be moving forward. 

Actress Winona Ryder, who starred in the original film, recently appeared on the NBC program “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and discussed a possible new movie.

“I think I can confirm” a sequel, the actress said.

“Beetlejuice” director Tim Burton said several months ago that he would want “Birdman” actor Michael Keaton to return if there was a sequel.

“There’s only one Beetlejuice, and that’s Michael,” Mr. Burton said in an interview. “There is a script [for a sequel], and I would love to work with [Keaton] again. I think there is now a better chance than ever.”

What does Mr. Keaton think? In 2014, the actor said, “Without giving too much away, [Burton and I have] talked to each other and e-mailed each other, and if he’s in, it’s going to be hard not to be in.”

The original movie starred Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin as a deceased couple who hire Beetlejuice (Keaton) to help kick out the new family who moved into their home. Ms. Ryder played the daughter of the new inhabitants. The movie did very well at the box office, becoming the tenth-highest-grossing film of 1988.

If a sequel to “Beetlejuice” does happen, it arrives as Burton and Keaton are at interesting points in their careers. Burton recently directed the tepidly received “Alice in Wonderland” and “Dark Shadows” before he helmed the 2014 film “Big Eyes,” a movie adaptation of the true story of artist Margaret Keane and her husband, who passed off her art as his own. "Eyes" earned praise from many critics, who noted that it was different from much of Burton’s work. 

Meanwhile, Keaton became the talk of Hollywood after starring in last year’s Best Picture winner “Birdman,” for which he earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination. 

No word yet on whether other “Beetlejuice” stars like Ms. Davis, Mr. Baldwin, or Catherine O’Hara would return.