Absences in Beetlejuice 2 Explained with In-Story Reference

The much-anticipated sequel to the 1988 cult classic “Beetlejuice” has finally made its way to theaters. “Beetlejuice 2” brings back some of the iconic figures from the original film, such as Betelgeuse, played by Michael Keaton, Lydia Deetz, portrayed by Winona Ryder, and Delia Deetz, played by Catherine O'Hara. However, many original characters, including the famed afterlife case worker Juno, are noticeably absent from the sequel’s roster.

Sylvia Sidney, who originally depicted Juno, passed away in 1999, and Glenn Shadix, who played Otho, died in 2010, providing a real-world explanation for their absences. Yet, the narrative of “Beetlejuice 2” offers an in-story reason for Juno’s absence by subtly suggesting the afterlife’s case workers are on strike, as noticed through an article headline read by Betelgeuse in the film.

This detail not only accounts for Juno’s missing storyline but also explains why ghosts such as Delia and Charles Deetz do not interact with any case workers upon entering the afterlife. The original “Beetlejuice” movie established rules for the afterlife bureaucracy, which included case workers like Juno advising new ghosts. In “Beetlejuice 2,” the strike augments the plot of the Neitherworld’s evolving structure.

Another intriguing point raised by the sequel is the adjustment of civil servant roles in the afterlife. In the 1988 film, suicide victims were designated as civil servants, a theme “Beetlejuice 2” tweaks by showing characters like Betelgeuse engaged in bureaucratic duties possibly because of an incorrect classification of deaths, hinting at systemic shifts in the afterlife order.

Moreover, the sequel introduces new elements to the Neitherworld, including a ghostly police force led by Wolf Jackson, potentially filling the authoritative void left by Juno’s absence. The role these new entities play mirrors Juno’s authoritative guidance but with a twist fitting the evolved comedy-horror tone laid out by Tim Burton‘s direction.

Tim Burton alongside the production team has seamlessly brought back major figures while respecting the legacy of those who couldn’t return. The absence of other original characters remains unexplained, possibly leaving room for further exploration if the franchise continues.