As a longtime fan of Michael Keaton‘s diverse and captivating acting career, I find myself enthralled by the multitude of roles he could reprise or revisit in future projects.
Witnessing Michael Keaton reprise his role as Betelgeuse (spelled “Beetlejuice”) in Tim Burton’s sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” is the latest fulfillment of a longtime fan’s wish, much like mine. Last year, the Oscar-nominated actor thrilled fans again with his portrayal of Batman in “The Flash.” This comeback was also set for “Batgirl” movie, had it been released.
Since two of Michael Keaton’s most memorable film characters have reappeared, I can’t help but wonder if there are other captivating roles from his esteemed acting career that he might consider reviving. Before you catch Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in cinemas on September 6th, let’s reminisce about some of the other performances that won our hearts and imagine the possibility of seeing more of them in the future.
Bill Blazejowski (Night Shift)
Did you know that Michael Keaton used Bruce Springsteen’s “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” as part of his preparation for the role of Bill Blazejowski in the 1982 movie, Night Shift? Directed by Ron Howard, this film features Keaton as a quick-witted morgue attendant who teams up with his new colleague, Chuck (played by Henry Winkler), to act as matchmakers and ensure that a group of women working in the sex industry find better clients. Pretty fascinating, right?
The character “Billy Blaze” was the one that first showcased Keaton’s quick-witted comedic skills and turned him into a film legend. Therefore, it’s only fair for Hollywood to reciprocate by producing a standalone movie where this inventive genius faces challenges while trying to bring his innovative ideas to life, like making paper edible as a solution for waste management.
Jack Butler (Mr. Mom)
After making a memorable appearance as a supporting actor in “Night Shift,” Keaton secured his debut leading role in the 1983 film “Mr. Mom.” In this popular comedy written by John Hughes, Jack Butler, played by Keaton, finds himself unemployed and takes on the role of stay-at-home dad for his children, Alex, Kenny, and Megan, while his wife, Caroline (played by Teri Garr), resumes her career.
In a surprising twist, even four decades later, I propose a sequel titled “Mr. Grandma“. This tale revolves around Jack joining forces with Alex, Megan’s husband, to look after their grandkids while the women embark on a girls’ trip. If executed skillfully, this heartwarming narrative could beautifully depict the transition of responsibility from parent to child and the acceptance of new roles.
Johnny Dangerously (Johnny Dangerously)
Keaton landed his next significant role in comedy, playing the titular character of the film “Johnny Dangerously,” directed by Amy Heckerling in 1984. This movie, though often overlooked, is a hilarious and clever spoof that pays tribute to old-style gangster films from the golden age of cinema. It is primarily set in the 1930s for this reason.
In this scenario, a follow-up story would ideally be placed in the 1970s, and it seems fitting for Johnny’s comeback to occur during this timeframe. The plot could revolve around him being influenced by one of the classic gangster films, specifically “The Godfather“, which might subtly nudge him back towards a life in organized crime and immersion in the New York drug scene. However, he soon discovers that things are not as straightforward or glamorous as they appeared during his prime years.
Doug Kinney (Multiplicity)
Ever since making a comeback in Batman roles and the cast of Beetlejuice, interviewers have been curious about which sequels Michael Keaton might consider. Interestingly enough, his response points towards a sequel for the film Multiplicity.
In 1996, Harold Ramis helmed a sci-fi comedy film where the overworked family man, Doug Keaton, opted for self-replication to gain extra time. However, things took an unexpected turn. The original story concluded with Doug’s duplicates, Lance, Rico, and Lenny, starting a pizza restaurant together, making it interesting to catch up with them and watch the quartet of identical individuals unite.
Ray Nicolette (Jackie Brown, Out Of Sight)
Among the films not linked to Quentin Tarantino’s shared universe, one notable example is the 1997 movie “Jackie Brown.” Interestingly, this film shares a common world with Steven Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight,” which was released in 1998. The connection between the two is primarily through the character of Ray Nicolette, portrayed by Keaton.
If the actor seemed eager to portray the charismatic ATF agent in two consecutive films, it’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t entertain the idea for a third. Interestingly, this character doesn’t appear in any other Elmore Leonard tales, but if someone could create another exciting mystery-thriller centered around Ray, or even focusing on him, that could be quite entertaining.
Chick Hicks (Cars)
Keaton has provided his voice for some of Pixar’s top films, such as Toy Story 3 as Ken and Cars from 2006 as Chick Hicks. As a fan of Keaton, I find it unexpected that Chick Hicks, Lightning McQueen’s racing rival, was not present in the second movie and didn’t have a bigger role in the third one.
Should a fourth “Cars” film be produced or if Disney+ resurrects “Cars on the Road,” it would add enjoyment to witness more of Chick and have Keaton provide his voice, as he was substituted by Bob Peterson in “Cars 3” due to scheduling issues with “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” This leads me to my last idea…
Adrian Toomes (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
In 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming”, Keaton’s portrayal of Vulture was widely regarded as one of the best Spider-Man movie villains, and a significant factor contributing to the film being considered among the top Spider-Man movies so far. Therefore, it’s safe to say that many people, including myself, are eager for more screen time featuring Adrian Tomes (Keaton’s character).
I’m hoping that when the character of the Vulture, portrayed by Keaton in a complex and empathetic way, returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it would be treated with more sensitivity compared to his somewhat confusing appearance in the Morbius movie.
In the realm of gaming characters I pondered over, one that caught my attention is Riggan Thomson from the 2014 film “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”, a personal favorite of mine featuring Michael Keaton. Yet, devising a way to resurrect Riggan that does justice to the enigmatic ending of the Best Picture Oscar winner seemed an arduous task. However, the thought of Keaton donning the cape and cowl once more, breathing life into his ‘ghost with the most’, is a compelling one, isn’t it?
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2024-09-04 12:39