Beetlejuice 2: Winona Ryder confirms that a sequel to the 1988 Tim Burton original is happening

It's been spoken about briefly by other actors and filmmakers who worked on the original for a while now, but it seems as if a Beetlejuice sequel is definitely happening. Lydia Deetz herself, Winona Ryder, appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers on 10 August to promote her new series, Show Me A Hero, and was asked outright about the possibility of a sequel to the cult hit by the host.

Meyers addressed the Black Swan actress directly, saying: "There's been talk of a Beetlejuice sequel. Can you confirm or deny it?" To which a seemingly hesitant Ryder responded: "Um, I think I can confirm it, because Tim Burton did this interview — like, it was very hush hush, top secret ... and then he was doing some press for Big Eyes and he did an on-camera interview and he said, 'Oh yeah we're doing it and Winona's going to be in it,' and I was like..." she told Meyers, as she donned a shocked-looking expression. "If he said it, then I can say it."

While her answer might have been a little vague (and confusing), she did use the word "confirm," so it finally looks as if fans of the original have something concrete to go on when it comes to whether there will be a sequel. But now that it has been made official, there are all sorts of other questions that Beetlejuice lovers will want answering. Will Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis be back? When is going to be released? What will the storyline be? It looks like we might be waiting a while to get any information about any of that...

Talking to MTV over a year ago, Michael Keaton planted the idea that there could have been a follow-up when he voiced his enthusiasm to return to the role. "I always said that's the one thing I'd like to do again, if I ever did anything again. But it kind of required Tim to be involved some way or another," he said. Keaton also confessed to emailing Burton suggesting it and admitted to having had discussions with "the writer a couple of times". But he assured the publication that it was "all really, really preliminary stuff", which soon dashed everyone's hopes, making them think it was just a pipeline dream of the Birdman actor rather than a reality.

But Burton later added fuel to the fire "There is a script, and I would love to work with him again. I think there is now a better chance than ever... I miss that character. There's something that's cathartic and amazing about it. I think it's closer than ever." So now Ryder's announcement makes a trio of people involved that have alluded to a second movie based around the bonkers characters and you know what happens when Beetlejuice is said three times...