Jenna Ortega Met Michael Keaton When He Was in Costume as Beetlejuice: “A Jump Scare”

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Jenna Ortega Met Michael Keaton When He Was in Costume as Beetlejuice: "A Jump Scare"

As a seasoned gamer and film enthusiast who has seen my fair share of spooky adventures, I can only imagine what it must feel like to encounter Beetlejuice himself, both on and off-screen. Jenna Ortega’s experience meeting Michael Keaton as the iconic character was nothing short of terrifying, akin to stumbling upon a Level Boss in an old-school survival horror game.

Jenna Ortega is realizing every goth girl’s aspiration by taking on a role in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice—though there was one particularly nerve-wracking instance during filming. In particular, when she encountered Michael Keaton for the first time, as he approached her from behind while he was in full makeup as the renowned Tim Burton character.

Experiencing Beetlejuice, a beloved figure in cinema, on screen is quite an event. However, having a chance to personally engage with this mischievous trickster demon on set is an entirely different experience – and Jimmy Fallon was curious to hear about that first encounter when Keaton donned the Beetlejuice costume.

Asking Ortega, I wondered if everyone becomes silent or weeps – I’d surely weep myself – as she described her first encounter with Keaton as eerily reminiscent of a horror film scene.

Ortega confessed that she initially felt a little awestruck working alongside original cast members like Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara at the start of the project. She expressed on The Tonight Show that such an opportunity was beyond her wildest expectations; something she could never have envisioned happening.

“Michael is incredibly cool, there’s no doubt. The character of Beetlejuice, which is so iconic and adored, also features the coolest character I can think of – Lydia. Everything about it left me feeling scared during her interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 21.”

Jenna Ortega Met Michael Keaton When He Was in Costume as Beetlejuice: "A Jump Scare"

Jenna Ortega “forgot” she’d met Michael Keaton because he’d been dressed as Beetlejuice

“From behind me, he appeared as I was undergoing a hair and makeup trial. A gentle tap on my shoulder caused me to spin around, only to find myself startled, indeed. With a chuckle, Ortega recounted the incident to Fallon, saying, ‘It was definitely a jump scare.’ He introduced himself as ‘Michael,’ sporting molds that seemed to be peeling off his face. Remaining composed was my response.”

She went on saying, “It was great until I encountered him for the second time without his usual styling. This is when I realized that we had previously met, so I reintroduced myself.”

“You didn’t meet Michael Keaton. You met Beetlejuice,” said Fallon. 

Besides her interview, Ortega also triumphed in a round of “Truth Reveals” alongside Fallon, with her fellow actor Catherine O’Hara making an unexpected entrance to lend her support.

During their conversation, Ortega, who is an ardent film enthusiast, opted for a different game, where she ranked five iconic film soundtracks in order of her liking (a twist: She didn’t know which one would come up next). You can catch her exact rankings of Titanic versus Star Wars in the complete interview, but it’s worth mentioning that she has collaborated with Tim Burton and is equally enamored with the soundtracks of his films as well.

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2024-08-23 18:16