The Deetz family looked drastically different by the end of Beetlejuice 2, but the sequel referenced a character that could excitingly come into play for Beetlejuice 3. Beetlejuice 2‘s character list included three generations of Deetz women, all of whom had pivotal roles in Tim Burton’s sequel. Delia, Lydia, and Astrid reunited after Charles’ unexpected death, but the addition of Lydia’s teenage daughter and the subtraction of Charles wasn’t the only family change for the long-awaited sequel.

Aside from explaining how Charles died in Beetlejuice 2, the sequel confirmed how Lydia’s ex-husband and Astrid’s father passed away before the events of the film. Despite his death, Richard was able to appear in the movie as an Immigration employee in the afterlife. The twist allowed him to reunite with his family while saving Astrid from a grim fate in the Neitherworld. Another family reunion occurred in Beetlejuice 2‘s ending when a recently deceased Delia found Charles by the Soul Train, which helped pave the way for a new Beetlejuice 3 character.

Beetlejuice 3 Can Introduce Lydia’s Mother After Confirming She’s Alive In Beetlejuice 2

Tim Burton’s Sequel Solved A Major Deetz Family Mystery

Among the biggest twists in Beetlejuice 2 was the reveal that Lydia’s birth mother was actually alive. Lydia struggled due to her strained relationship with Astrid for much of the sequel, leading to Delia providing support and encouragement. At one point, Delia claimed that Lydia blamed her for her real mom’s death, to which Lydia countered that her mother wasn’t even dead. The big Deetz family reveal means that Lydia’s biological mom can appear as a character for Beetlejuice 3 if another sequel comes to fruition.

In Beetlejuice the Musical , Lydia has a mother named Emily Deetz, who passed away.

Leading into Beetlejuice 2, Lydia’s mom remained a mystery, considering no details surrounding the figure were revealed in the original movie. 1988’s Beetlejuice followed the Deetz family as they relocated to Winter River, with the family only consisting of Charles, Lydia, and Delia, Charles’ second wife and Lydia’s stepmother. Without a mention of Lydia’s biological mom and the insinuation that Lydia had no options to live elsewhere, the assumption pointed to Lydia’s mom being dead. Beetlejuice 2 proved that was not the case at all, but by avoiding any further details about the character, the mystery surrounding Lydia’s mom keeps growing.

Tim Burton Is Already Linked To The Perfect Actress To Play Lydia’s Mom In Another Beetlejuice Sequel

Burton Can Turn To A Frequent Collaborator

If Beetlejuice 3 is greenlit, introducing Lydia’s mom as a direct character would greatly pay off the reveal surrounding her fate. Granted, the payoff would also stem from who the movie could cast to play Lydia’s biological mom. Depending on whether Burton is onboard for Beetlejuice 3, the filmmaker already has the perfect actress for the role, who also happens to be his ex: Helena Bonham Carter.

Not only is Carter one of Tim Burton’s frequent collaborators, having worked on seven of his movies to date, but she was in a relationship with the filmmaker for over a decade. The couple share two children but split amicably, with Carter revealing that she would be open to working with Burton again despite their breakup in 2014. It would be great to see the actress join one of his most popular franchises with a role in Beetlejuice 3. She already has plenty of experience with eccentric roles, so the Beetlejuice universe is undoubtedly something Carter can tackle.

Helena Bonham Carter’s Tim Burton Movie
Release Year
Character

Planet of the Apes
2001
Ari

Big Fish
2003
Jennifer Hill/The Witch

Corpse Bride
2005
Emily

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2005
Mrs. Bucket

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
2007
Mrs. Lovett

Alice in Wonderland
2010
Red Queen

Dark Shadows
2012
Julia Hoffman

It would be fun to learn that Lydia’s goth aesthetic was influenced by her birth mother, giving Carter an opportunity to play another offbeat figure. Many of Carter’s past roles, like Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter movies or Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, had appearances in tune with what one might expect Lydia’s mom to look like. Despite being only six years older than Winona Ryder, who’d be playing her on-screen daughter, Carter has experience playing an older version of herself, as seen in Burton’s Big Fish.

Why Lydia’s Mom Makes Sense For Beetlejuice 3 (If It Happens)

Delia’s Fate In Beetlejuice 2 Paves The Way For Lydia’s Mother

Though Beetlejuice 3 would still need to be officially announced, chances are looking good based on Beetlejuice 2′s successful box office run. The sequel’s story also paves the way for Lydia’s mom to finally join the movie franchise. Aside from the brief mention of the character, Beetlejuice 3 has plenty of opportunities for new characters, especially when it comes to the Deetz family. With Delia getting killed off in Beetlejuice 2, it’s unclear if another sequel would feature Catherine O’Hara’s character even if wacky Neitherworld rules allowed it.

Ironically, Lydia and Delia’s relationship evolved in Beetlejuice 2, but the death meant that all four of Lydia’s parental figures from the first Beetlejuice–Charles, Delia, Adam, and Barbara–were no longer around. This twist of fate opens the door for another parental figure to reenter her life in a larger capacity. It would also help Astrid to have another grandmother around, considering how much loss she had experienced so far in her life. An introduction of Lydia’s mom would also answer some major questions related to both Beetlejuice entries.