Summary
- Beetlejuice made a notable crossover with DC superheroes in a Teen Titans Go! Halloween special.
- Beetlejuice’s broadway paid homage to the character’s stage debut by starring in the episode.
- Beetlejuice has also made appearances with DC characters in comics and video games, further expanding his pop culture presence.
As a long-time fan of the strange and the supernatural, I must say that Beetlejuice has certainly made a comeback with a vengeance! Having grown up watching Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera cartoons, it’s quite surreal to see Michigan J. Frog, the former mascot of The WB, turning into an antagonist in a story. But Beetlejuice’s latest adventures have truly taken things to a whole new level.
The main character of “Beetlejuice,” originally named “Betelgeuse,” has maintained a dedicated fanbase since the 1988 movie that first introduced him to the world. Over time, fans have continued to appreciate him through various appearances, such as the 4-season long cartoon series from 1989 and the Broadway musical. For many years, whispers of a potential sequel, titled “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian,” circulated. However, it was eventually “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” that gave the cult film a legitimate sequel.
Over time, you might find it odd to see Beetlejuice appearing in stories related to DC Comics and their iconic heroes. In various forms such as comic books, cartoons, and video games, Beetlejuice has crossed paths with characters like Superman and Wonder Woman.
Absolutely, Beetlejuice is a complex character who transitions from a charming adversary in the initial movie to a close companion of Lydia in the animated series. This makes Beetlejuice capable of being either an ally or an enemy to renowned superheroes, sometimes even switching roles during the same storyline.
Beetlejuice Met the Teen Titans For Halloween
In an exciting twist for a spooky special, Beetlejuice collaborated with a group of young DC superheroes, the Teen Titans, for Halloween. The adventure begins in the “Ghost With the Most” episode of Teen Titans Go! when someone captures the actual embodiment of Halloween itself. Alarmed by this, the Teen Titans spring into action, especially when they discover that if they don’t recover the Halloween Spirit promptly, Halloween will vanish forever. They find an enigmatic ally when Cyborg recites “Betelgeuse” three times from a paper, thus summoning the well-known spirit. With Beetlejuice’s assistance, the Titans embark on a journey to the Netherworld to save the Halloween Spirit, a journey that even results in them becoming ghosts themselves.
In a humorous moment, Beetlejuice declines assisting the Titans, citing a busy schedule. This includes a Broadway play, a supposed sequel set in Hawaii, and an impending wedding with Winona Ryder. The Broadway play is a jab at his musical adaptation, the Hawaii reference hints at the unmade sequel to the 1988 film titled “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian”, which later evolved into “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”. Mentioning Winona Ryder refers to her portrayal of Lydia in the films, and Beetlejuice’s plan to wed her character in the original film’s ending.
Unaware of it, the Titans find themselves in a predicament as Beetlejuice, the mischievous spirit, is the one who snatched the Halloween Spirit, aiming to seize control of the holiday. Employing his cunning tricks, he prevents the Titans from summoning him by saying his name thrice, which would send him back home. However, Raven has a contingency plan: she summons a monstrous sandworm to drag Beetlejuice into the Netherworld. The holiday is rescued, and as a final gag, Beetlejuice crosses paths with Raven’s malevolent father, Trigon, who shrinks his head in an homage to the initial film.
Beetlejuice’s distinctive look underscores the iconic status he has maintained throughout the years. Moreover, his malevolent role in this context echoes the original film, implying that the character portrayed in “Teen Titans Go!” may have been only loosely inspired by the character from the earlier animated series, who was known for causing mischief but was much less villainous.
The Teen Titans Go! Episode Helped Promote the Musical
A key factor contributing to the relevance of the Beetlejuice crossover is that the iconic spirit recently graced Broadway with a musical rendition of the 1988 film, produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures in 2019. Interestingly, Alex Brightman, who first brought the titular character to life on stage, also provided his voice for the character in an episode of Teen Titans Go!.
Brightman’s successful casting could be attributed to fortunate timing, as he himself mentioned in an interview with Broadway World.
During a post-performance break, my producer, Mark Kaufman, dropped by my dressing room unexpectedly to share some exciting news. Apparently, some folks from the Teen Titans Go team had watched our show. They were considering an episode centered around Beetlejuice, and after our performance, they reached out to Mark and discussed this potential project with him.
Brightman also noted other the showrunners didn’t audition other actors for the part.
Beetlejuice Isn’t The Only Warner Bros. Character the Titans Have Met
As a cinephile with an affinity for Warner Bros., I’d say the link between “Beetlejuice” and “Teen Titans Go!” is rooted in their shared history with this iconic studio. After all, Warner Bros. Discovery currently owns DC Comics, the universe that spawned Teen Titans. Interestingly, Teen Titans Go! is a production of Warner Bros. Animation, as well as DC Entertainment and later DC Studios, just like Beetlejuice was first distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It’s worth noting that Teen Titans Go! has often paid homage to other characters within the Warner Bros. family on their show.
In a memorable occasion, Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary special brought together an array of characters from their diverse universe. From classic Looney Tunes and Cartoon Network favorites, to Hanna-Barbera creations, characters from The Wizard of Oz, Gremlins, and The Iron Giant were all part of the mix. Interestingly, Michigan J. Frog, a former mascot for The WB and an iconic character from Looney Tunes, took on the role of the story’s villain.
Beetlejuice Has Met Other DC Heroes as Well
1. The second installment of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and its recurring characters re-energized the character of Beetlejuice in popular culture, making frequent appearances. DC Comics and Warner Bros Pictures teamed up to boost the film’s popularity by releasing unique variant covers showcasing famous DC superheroes meeting Beetlejuice. In one instance, Beetlejuice is depicted wearing his carnival attire while sneaking up on an oblivious Batman in “Batman” #152.
In issue #2 of “Gotham City Sirens,” a miniaturized Harley Quinn, accompanied by Beetlejuice, is depicted. Beetlejuice seems to be reminding Harley of the Joker as they both ride a colossal sandworm alongside other DC characters. However, not every DC character welcomes him so warmly; in “Nightwing” #117, Nightwing attempts to avoid the notorious ghost.
Issue #92 of “House of Secrets” playfully imitates a chilling comic book titled “The House of Betelgeuse,” featuring none other than Beetlejuice’s iconic phrase, “Time for the show!” In an unexpected twist, Beetlejuice is found seated in front of a mirror when suddenly, Swamp Thing bursts through the window.
In addition to the movie, Beetlejuice has made appearances in video games developed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Warner Bros. Games. These games often feature DC superheroes as well. For instance, in the game Lego Dimensions, introduced in its second year, Beetlejuice was added alongside characters from Teen Titans Go! and The Lego Batman Movie. Notably, Batman was already included in the game’s Starter Pack. Furthermore, the game MultiVersus also incorporates Beetlejuice, placing him within the Assassin class along with several DC Universe characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Harley Quinn, and Black Adam.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
hits theaters on September 6, 2024.
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2024-08-28 05:32