Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Michael Keaton has played many iconic characters over the years. While Batman and the Vulture have certainly gotten him a lot of attention, there is no denying that his work in Tim Burton’sBeetlejuicewas one of the most iconic points in his career. The influence that the character had cannot be put into words, as he was immortalized in the hall of Burton’s most iconic characters.
However, sometimes the attention that one role gets can be counterproductive. During a recent interview, Keaton talked about the attention his portrayal of the character got. Interestingly enough, he revealed how it made it difficult for him to find his voice the second time around.
Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice Went Places
When a character becomes as iconic as Beetlejuice did, there are several rites of passage. They will be immortalized by their faces being put on everything. From mugs to shirts, action figures, and posters, if something can be printed on it,Michael Keatonand his green hair are on it.
“We’re going to bring Michael Keaton in everything now”: Bad Boys Directors Break Silence on Potentially Directing Spider-Man 4 After Batgirl Disaster
During a recent interview withEmpire, the actor revealed his feelings on the same, and they were not positive.
There’s been so much merchandising of it, I had to drop back to where it started.
I had to go, ‘What was my unusual imagination even thinking about when I was developing it in the first place?’ As opposed to seeing a coffee mug or a golf-club cover [adorned with Betelgeuse’s face].
While many actors enjoy these sorts of vanity, the same could not be said for him, as he found it to be quite odd. The fact that his face was almost everywhere quite disturbing, not because he was uncomfortable with his face being there but because he felt that the character was turning into something much bigger than himself.
Unfortunately, this was not a good thing when it came time to shootBeetlejuice 2.
Michael Keaton Got Lost in the Oversaturation
The oversaturation of his first portrayal of Beetlejuice madeMichael Keatonforget the vision he had when he was playing the character in the first film. What he thought to be the intentions and motivations of the character were being clouded by those of the world. This made it extremely difficult for him to get back into the zone in the second film.
“It was like an animal with a gun”: Jenna Ortega Was Completely Dumbstruck after Witnessing Michael Keaton’s Brilliance on Beetlejuice 2
The ubiquity of Beetlejuice as a character in the culture created its own challenges. That was f*cking weird.
To be honest with you – I’m being very frank – it was off-putting, to look and go, ‘I don’t want to look like all these little things, f*ck that – what was the thing that started this?’
A still from the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailer I Warner Bros.While Keaton does not think that the success of the character was a bad thing, it did make it odd for him to get back into the skin of someone when the entire world thought that they had him figured out. To better understand what he was trying to do in 1988, he went back to square one and decided to look back at where he was.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuicewill be released in theaters on June 10, 2025.
Ananya Godboley
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2219
Ananya Godboley is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows, with over 2,000 articles published. She has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from K.R. Mangalam University, Ananya also likes to fangirl as a full-time job. She covers news and analyses on anything from Rick and Morty to Hannibal and even Arcane. In between these lines, she also enjoys superheroes and Taylor Swift.A philosophy enthusiast, Ananya enjoys digging deeper into the media she consumes, trying to understand the root of her favorite characters' behavior.
More from Ananya Godboley
I’m 100% Sure Harley Quinn’s Funniest Superman Scene Is a Modern Family Homage
Ranked: Every Superhero Team Confirmed For Avengers: Doomsday vs RDJ’s Doctor Doom
Is The Rainmaker Based on a True Story? The Real-Life Inspiration Behind the USA Network Series
Recommended
One Piece: Why Luffy’s Final Fight Will Break Shonen (& It Won’t Be Against Imu or Blackbeard)
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Season 10 Episode 9: Release Date and What to Expect
NYT Strands July 17, 2025 Hints and Solution
You Can Finally Watch Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Blockbuster at Home: Digital Release Date Revealed - Report
NYT Pips Solution for August 22, 2025
‘Game of Thrones’ Cast Ranked by Net Worth: Who’s the Richest GOT Actor?
Michael Keaton
![A still from the Beetlejuice 2 trailer [Credits: Warner Bros.]](https://i2.wp.com/fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/23144411/IMG_0254.jpeg)
