Summary
The new trailer forBeetlejuice 2seems to have confirmed how Charles Deetz died, and it fits with the theme of rare causes of death highlighted in the original movie. With the long-awaitedsequel set to premiere in theaters on June 27, 2025, Warner Bros. recently dropped the fullofficial trailer forBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, which reveals some surprising actor cameos, character details, and plot twists. While the latest trailer is primarily focused on the new and returningcast and characters inBeetlejuice 2, there’s a brief shot that seems to serve as an explanation for one original figure’s absence.
After about a year of speculation, given Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, and Catherine O’Hara’s returns were announced early on,Beetlejuice 2confirmed that Jeffrey Jones’ character Charles Deetz had died. The first teaser trailer featured a shot of the Deetz family at a funeral, with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail revealing Charles’ face on a headstone by the casket. Beetlejuice 2’s new trailer officiallyconfirms Charles’ death as Jenna Ortega’s Astrid remarks that she can’t believe her “grandpa is dead,”but still leaves the manner of his death a mystery. However, the synopsis reveals his death was an unexpected tragedy, which aligns with the circumstances a curious scene teased in the trailer.
Beetlejuice 2’s Trailer Suggests That Charles Deetz Died In A Plane Crash
The trailer features a brief shot of a plane crash over an ocean
One of the few shots inBeetlejuice 2’s trailer that seems too disconnected from the plot to be associated with the surviving Deetz family members involves a plane crash. At theone minute and 29 second time stamp in the trailer, what appears to be a commercial flight is seen crashing into the ocean below, with fire and smoke billowing from one of the “Pacific Travel” plane’s engines. The actual crash isn’t shown, but it’s implied that a character inBeetlejuice 2will meet their demise in this teased scene. With only one major character’s death already confirmed, itseems extremely likely that Charles Deetz dies in this plane crashin the sequel.
Lydia’s father, Delia’s husband, Astrid’s grandfather
Lydia’s stepmother, Charles' wife, Astrid’s grandmother
Charles' daughter, Delia’s stepdaughter, Astrid’s mother
Alive
Lydia’s daughter, Charles & Delia’s granddaughter
A plane crash would certainly fit with the suggestion that Charles’ death was tragic and unexpected, but it’s unclear why he would be taking this flight across the Pacific Ocean without the rest of theDeetz family members. Additionally,the scene appears to be animated in what could be stop-motion, suggesting the plane crash will be a flashback of some sort inBeetlejuice 2. With Charles’ death being the catalyst for Lydia and Delia’s return to Winter River in the sequel, it’s likely that the exact circumstances of his fate will be revealed inBeetlejuice 2’s opening sequence.
Wait, Is Jenna Ortega’s Character Dead In Beetlejuice 2?
Beetlejuice 2’s new full trailer gives a better look at Jenna Ortega’s role as Astrid, but the footage hints at a dark fate for the character.
Charles' Funeral Scene Hints At Another Layer To His Wild Beetlejuice 2 Death
Do sharks really factor into Charles' death?
Before the shot of the plane crash that was featured in the latest trailer,Beetlejuice 2’s first official teaser footage hinted at a different explanation for Charles Deetz’s death. The headstone at Charles’ grave in the funeral scene happens to be in the shape of a shark fin, which seemed like an odd detail given Charles never mentioned any unique fascination with the animal in the 1988 movie. As such, it seemed as ifhis headstone may have been a hint that Charles died from a shark attack.
Beetlejuice 2’s New Cameo Confirms A Beloved Tim Burton Actor Reunion That Began 32 Years Ago With $267 Million Movie
Beetlejuice 2’s new trailer confirms that a frequent Tim Burton actor is making a cameo, continuing the actor and director’s 32-year film partnership.
While it still sems extremely likely that Charles dies in the teased plane crash, the shark tease could still factor into his death. The plane in the trailer is headed over the Pacific Ocean, as indicated by its Pacific Travel airline logo, so it’s possible that the aircraft crashes in shark-infested waters. If so,it could be the case that after Charles’ plane crashes, his death is officially caused by a shark attack. This doesn’t seem as realistic, but would certainly help provide an explanation for the shark fin’s prominence at his funeral.
The headstone at Charles’ grave in the funeral scene happens to be in the shape of a shark fin, which seemed like an odd detail given Charles never mentioned any unique fascination with the animal in the 1988 movie.
The idea that Charles would die from a shark attack still doesn’t seem too out of left field for Tim Burton’s horror-comedy franchise, given the many unique deaths featured among theghosts inBeetlejuice’s Neitherworld waiting room. In fact,one of the specters in the original 1988 film died from a shark attack, as the green-tinted diver ghost was still donning his mask, swim trunks, oxygen tank, and the shark itself hanging off his leg. As such, Charles dying from a shark attack after a plane crash inBeetlejuice 2could be an homage to the original movie’s Neitherworld ghosts.
Charles Deetz’s Death Could Be A Nod To The Canceled Beetlejuice Sequel
Was Charles headed to Hawaii when he died?
Long before Tim Burton’s 2024Beetlejuice 2movie came to fruition, there were plans for a very different type of sequel to the 1988 movie. The most well-known follow-up that became stuck in development hell before being canceled altogether was asequel calledBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, which would have seen Michael Keaton reprise his role as the titular character while causing chaos for the Deetz family in Hawaii instead of Winter River.Though a script was written, the movie never reached production, which seems to be a relief given the exciting setup for the officialBeetlejuice 2movie.
The most well-known follow-up that became stuck in development hell before being canceled altogether was a sequel calledBeetlejuices Goes Hawaiian, which would have seen Michael Keaton reprise his role as the titular character while causing chaos for the Deetz family in Hawaii instead of Winter River.
ThoughBeetlejuice Goes Hawaiiannever happened, Charles Deetz’s death inBeetlejuice 2could be a subtle nod to this unmade sequel.If it truly is Charles who is headed on a flight over the Pacific Ocean, then it’s plausible that he may have been on his way to Hawaii. However, like the once-potential sequel itself, it doesn’t seem like Charles’ trip will come to an end before it truly even begins in the 2024 movie.
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.
