Beetlejuice 2 reunites Jenna Ortega and Tim Burton after working together on Netflix’s Wednesday, and the sequel movie doesn’t pass up using the actress in its big musical number. Ortega plays Astrid in Beetlejuice 2‘s cast, highlighted by returning stars like Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara. Astrid is a newcomer in Burton’s follow-up, serving as Lydia’s teenage daughter and the youngest member of the Deetz family. Though Ortega’s Astrid is an exciting new element of the sequel, Beetlejuice 2 doesn’t ignore other aspects of her growing career.

Beetlejuice 2 features Easter eggs and references that call back to the original movie, as well as other projects connected to Tim Burton and cast members. Though Ortega is no stranger to horror movies, her most popular project to date is playing Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series. Some fans have linked similarities between Wednesday and Astrid, but Beetlejuice 2 also includes a few other nods to the Netflix show. Seeing as music has always been a key component to the Beetlejuice universe, it’s no surprise Ortega got a fun role in Beetlejuice 2‘s ending, considering her history in Wednesday.

Tim Burton Gives Jenna Ortega Another Dance Scene After Wednesday’s Viral Sequence

Music Is Important To The Beetlejuice Franchise

Astrid (Jenna Ortega) and Delia Deetz (Catherine O'Hara) playing a hand game against their will in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Wednesday dancing with her hands in Wednesday Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) dances at the Rave'N in Wednesday. Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday episode four of Wednesday dance scene wearing a black dress Astrid (Jenna Ortega) looking frightened in Beetlejuice 2
Astrid (Jenna Ortega) and Delia Deetz (Catherine O'Hara) playing a hand game against their will in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Wednesday dancing with her hands in Wednesday Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) dances at the Rave'N in Wednesday.
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday episode four of Wednesday dance scene wearing a black dress Astrid (Jenna Ortega) looking frightened in Beetlejuice 2

Whereas the original Beetlejuice highlighted “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” as the musical number, Beetlejuice 2 uses “MacArthur Park” for the song and dance sequence. The moment occurs when Betelgeuse attempts to marry Lydia (again), and he orchestrates the performance with the help of characters like Astrid, Delia, and Rory against their will. Ortega’s participation in Beetlejuice 2‘s “MacArthur Park” sequence is even funnier when looking back at her viral Wednesday dance to The Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck” song. Not only was Wednesday’s dance episode directed by Tim Burton, but the showrunners for the Netflix series also co-wrote Beetlejuice 2.

The long-awaited Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, starring Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega, includes a soundtrack of entertaining songs that shape the plot.

Wednesday‘s “Goo Goo Muck” dance was a notable highlight of season 1, but the cast and crew likely didn’t predict how much of a viral sensation it would become for the show and Ortega, in general. The strange choreography was perfectly on-brand for Wednesday. Still, it was a surprisingly vulnerable moment for the character and Ortega, who now can’t escape anything related to that moment in the show. While fans await to see if there’s another dance in Wednesday season 2, Beetlejuice 2 throws Ortega into another musical performance that includes dancing and lip-syncing.

What Jenna Ortega Has Said About Astrid’s Dancing In Beetlejuice 2

Ortega Wasn’t Performing Alone This Time Around

Delia, Astrid, and Lydia looking at the ground in Beetlejuice 2

Jenna Ortega has been vocal about Wednesday‘s popular dance, admitting she still can’t believe how much attention she got. Whether she regrets some of the fanfare it has caused or not, there’s no debate about how much of an impact Wednesday’s dance made on pop culture. It also proved to Burton that the actress was fully capable of tackling Beetlejuice 2‘s musical scene. Ortega spoke of filming the scene alongside O’Hara (via Mashable), where the two revealed that a choreographer was involved, but they came up with some of the “ridiculous” synchronized moves themselves.

Aside from dancing, Jenna Ortega’s portrayal as Wednesday Addams has included learning to play the cello. The character notably plays a version of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” in Wednesday season 1.

Aside from mentioning several dance moves that didn’t make the final cut, Ortega described their approach as “more performance art than anything.” Seeing as Astrid and Delia dance together for much of the scene, Ortega was able to collaborate with someone else, which wasn’t the case with her solo Wednesday performance. Both involved planning and improvisation, but the Beetlejuice 2 musical moment was a group effort, lessening the attention and pressure put on Ortega compared to Wednesday. That said, the Beetlejuice 2 scene pays off and serves as one of the sequel’s funniest moments. Now all eyes will be on Wednesday season 2 and if Ortega has more dancing scenes in store.

Source: Mashable