Beetlejuice
Tim Burton ’s horror - comedyBeetlejuiceintroduced the bio - exorcist Betelgeuse ( often make out as Beetlejuice ) , played by Michael Keaton . Betelgeuse key himself as"the ghost with the most " and is usually say to be a poltergeist , but this might not be the whole story . Betelgeuse has some odd powersand one failing : he can not say his own name . This is confirmed in a scene inBeetlejuice , in which Betelgeuse plays charades with Lydia to communicate his name , which he wants her to say three times , breaking him out of eternal damnation . This confinement would be explained if Betelgeuse was not a ghost , but something else .
Beetlejuicedoes not give away many detail about the background of the iconic grapheme , whileBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceexpands onBetelgeuse ’s backstory , confirm that he is dead , and remembers his life as a 14th - century grave robber . However , Betelgeuse does not behave like a typical ghost or poltergeist , as he uses his powers to empty the living from haunted theater , rather than doing the haunting . His inability to say his name might point to his true personal identity , as according to mythology , demon are unable to say their own names , which could signify that Betelgeuse is a daemon , not a ghost .
Demon Mythology Explains Why Betelgeuse Can’t Say His Own Name - Theory Explained
Michael Keaton’s Character Is Called Betelgeuse, Not Beetlejuice (But They Are Pronounced The Same Way)
According to devil mythology , a demon is said to have index over the somebody who knows its honest name , and Betelgeuse is able to both blackmail and use his supernatural powers to keep in line Lydia in both motion picture . However , the speaker can also control the demon , which bump in bothBeetlejuicemovies when the characters summons and banish Betelgeuse by say his name three clock time . TheBeetlejuicemovies research this interesting power moral force , and while a poltergeist might have some of Betelgeuse ’s great power , Betelgeuse ’s inability to say his own name is more closely link with daemon mythology .
Michael Keaton ’s character is called Betelgeuse , and not " Beetlejuice . " The name is seen on his gravestone in Adam Maitland ’s model town , and the " real life " Betelgeuse is the second - brightest ace in the configuration of Orion . It is considered an isolated star , of unknown origin , which accurately trace the character inBeetlejuice . However , the name beseem him less now thatBeetlejuice Beetlejuicehas introduced viewers to more of his past . Both spelling are enounce " Beetlejuice,“so a summoner could probably apply the name to pull in power over the fictitious character , no matter how they spell it .
How Summoners Still Have Power Over Betelgeuse In The Beetlejuice Movies
Lydia Deetz Is The Best-Equipped Character For Controlling Betelgeuse
Though Betelgeuse render to fox his way of life into escaping to the mortal world , the summoners still have mogul over him in bothBeetlejuicemovies . Betelgeuse appears to have no choice over where he is mobilize or who by , indicating that higher powers are at work here . Betelgeuse arrives in the world of the animation when his name is say three time , but the summoner can say Betelgeuse ’s name three times again to send him back tothe Netherworld inBeetlejuice . This reflects the power battle note in demon mythologyand reinforces the theory that Betelgeuse is a demon , not just a trace .
When Michael Keaton returned to represent Betelgeuse inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice , director Tim Burton compare his character transformation to being possess by a demon .
Lydia ’s power to see ghostsis established , as long as the ghost has a haunting site . However , as she can understandably see other Netherworld fauna , include the sandworm , her supernatural communication abilities extend beyond just specter . Lydia being capable to see Betelgeuse does not intend that he is just a ghost , as she can belike see demons too . Though Betelgeuse being a demon might precede some Modern rule to navigate if another subsequence confirms this theory , Lydia is already conversant with the way to summon and relegate Betelgeuse , making her the advantageously - equipped character to deal with him .
Why Betelgeuse’s Name Needs To Be Said 3 Times To Summon Him
Another Beetlejuice Sequel Could Expand The Netherworld Lore And Make Betelgeuse’s Demonic Status Canon
Inthe original script forBeetlejuice , the Maitlands are told about " the rule of three , " which is that everything comes in trey . This includes the Maitlands ' home , as Barbara has to say the parole " home " three time to return . It makes sense , then , thatBetelgeuse must be summoned or blackball by enounce his name three times . However , the number three is also significant in mythology outside of theBeetlejuicefranchise . According to witchcraft lore , it is trust that whatever you send out into the world , the globe sends it back to you threefold .
Rumors of a Beetlejuice continuation swirled around from the 1990s until just a couple of years ago ; now , the idea has been shelved .
TheBeetlejuicesequel expanded Betelgeuse ’s human race , giving the audience more insight into the Netherworld and Betelgeuse ’s life afterBeetlejuiceended . However , whileBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceexplains who Betelgeuse was when he was alive , it does not give any more elucidation about what he is now that he is dead . The ending ofBeetlejuice Beetlejuicedid not reign out aBeetlejuice 3 , and the movie has been successful at the box office , so the possibility is there . A thirdBeetlejuicemovie could make Betelgeuse ’s daimon theory canyon , expand on the Netherworld lore , and would obey theBeetlejuiceuniverse ’s " rule of three . "
Custom image by Milica Djordjevic
Image via Universal Pictures