Oscar-winningactor Brad Pitt’s name pops up in the opening creditsofBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, which may have caused some confusion as to what his role was in the 2024 horror-comedy. Thecast and crew ofBeetlejuice 2saw three major returning actors alongside an exciting ensemble of new, high-profile faces joining Tim Burton’s spooky fantasy world. While icons Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara made up the returning cast, Burton also recruited long-established and newer stars like Willem Dafoe, Danny DeVito, Monica Bellucci, and Jenna Ortega to augmentBeetlejuice’s living world and afterlife.
Of course, there were some hidden surprises forBeetlejuice 2’s new and returning characters. For instance,Tim Burton himself has a cameo inBeetlejuice 2as the voice of Baby Betelgeuse, with original character Charles Deetz also returning with new uncredited actors portraying and voicing him. On the other hand, a notable actor’s name is seen in the credits despite not being advertised as appearing in the sequel,leading to questions about whether Brad Pitt might have secretly played a role inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Despite having his name early on in the credits, Brad Pitt doesn’t play a role inBeetlejuice 2’s cast. Rather,Pitt is a producer onBeetlejuice 2through his production company Plan B Entertainment. After decades of talk about a potentialBeetlejuicesequel happening following the success of Tim Burton’s 1988 movie,Beetlejuice 2finally began to become a reality once it was reported that in February 2022 that Brad Pitt’s studio Plan B would be developing it.
Brad Pitt is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Plan B Entertainment, while Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner serve as co-president.
Sadly, sinceGeena Davis didn’t reprise her role as Barbara Maitland,Beetlejuice 2wasn’t able to reunite the originalBeetlejuicestar with Brad Pitt after the two appeared together in 1991’sThelma & Louise. Alongside Pitt’s Blan B Entertainment,Beetlejuice 2was co-produced by director Tim Burton under his Tim Burton Productions, the 1988 movie’s Geffen Film Company, and Warner Bros. partner Domain Entertainment.
Plan B Entertainment Also Produced Titles Like Bob Marley: One Love & Wolfs
WhileBeetlejuice Beetlejuicemay have been Plan B’s biggest production in 2024, it wasn’t the only one. The2024 movie releasesthat the studio also backed includeBob Marley: One Love,Apocalypse in the Tropics,Nickel Boys, andWolfs, the latter of which co-starred Brad Pitt and George Clooney.Apocalypse in the Tropicsis slated for a 2025 release on Netflix, but the documentary had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in August 2024.
Apocalypse in the Tropics
TBD (July 25, 2025 Venice Film Festival Premiere)
Additionally, Plan B produced the 2024 Netflix show3 Body Problem, which has already been renewed for seasons 2 and 3. After an exciting year of releases with the likes ofBeetlejuice 2in 2024, Brad Pitt’s production company also has some intriguing projects coming up in 2025.Among the movies that Plan B Entertainment is producing in 2025 are Bong Joon-ho’sMickey 17and theBrad Pitt-starring racing sports dramaF1.
Perhaps surprisingly,Beetlejuice 2isn’t the firstTim Burton-directed moviethat Brad Pitt’s company has produced. Indeed,Brad Pitt served as a producer on Tim Burton’s 2005 fantasy musicalCharlie and the Chocolate Factory,based on Roald Dahl’s 1964 children’s book. Like withBeetlejuice 2,Charlie and the Chocolate Factorywas released by Warner Bros. and became a big hit for the studio, producers, and director. The 2005 film earned over $474 million at the box office against an estimated $150 million budget, comparable toBeetlejuice 2bringing in over $451 million against a $99 million budget in 2024.
Since Brad Pitt’s production company was founded in 2001, Tim Burton’sCharlie and the Chocolate Factorywas only the second feature film release from Plan B Entertainment, following Pitt’s ownTroyin 2004. It was evenrumored that Brad Pitt was one of the actors in consideration to play Willy WonkainCharlie and the Chocolate Factorybefore Tim Burton signed on and Johnny Depp landed the role (viaIFC). However, it seems the partnership between Plan B Entertainment and Tim Burton is based on the studio and director’s partnership eras with Warner Bros.
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From 2002 until 2005, Plan B had a production deal with Warner Bros., which was then revived in 2020, shortly before confirmingBeetlejuice 2’s development. Meanwhile, Burton began working more frequently with Warner Bros. in the 2000s and early 2010s with releases likeCorpse Bride,Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, andDark Shadows. After the latter film, Tim Burton largely worked with Disney throughout the 2010s, with that partnership ending afterDumbo’s critical and box office disappointmentsin 2019. Upon his return to making feature films, Burton reunited with Warner Bros., and, therefore, Plan B Entertainment.
Burton & Pitt Could Take Their Collaborations Further After Beetlejuice 2
After two successful outings while working together behind the scenes, it would beexciting to see Tim Burton and Brad Pitt expand on their collaborations with Pitt starring in a Burton-directed movie. It was previously reported that Tim Burton was working on aremake of 1958’sAttack of the 50 Foot Woman, though the director later clarified that he doesn’t like to confirm a project is happening until he’s actually on set making it. IfAttack of the 50 Foot Woman’s remake does happen, then perhaps Pitt could find a role in the sci-fi horror’s cast.
It’s possible that Pitt could produce the sequel while also having a cameo or starring role, whether that be in the afterlife realm of the world of the living.
There have also been numerous calls for Burton topotentially makeBeetlejuice 3after the 2024 sequel’s successes. Though Burton has expressed doubts about making another sequel,Beetlejuice 2’s endingdoes leave the door open for the Deetzes and Michael Keaton’s Betelgeuse to return for a trilogy. IfBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceeventually gets a follow-up from Burton, then it’s possible that Pitt could produce the sequel while also having a cameo or starring role, whether that be in the afterlife realm of the world of the living.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
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.
