Beetlejuice 2: That Missed cameo That Would've Been Totally Awesome!
Beetlejuice 2's Afterlife: Expanding Neitherworld and a Missed Celebrity Cameo
Beetlejuice 2 is finally here, folks, and Tim Burton’s latest take on that classic dark comedy totally expands that crazy Netherworld setting! We see some new characters in those expanded afterlife locations; including a bunch of recently deceased souls lingering in that waiting room! It makes for an entirely new feel while still paying some serious homage to the original! This newer approach highlights those new dimensions of Netherworld's mechanics; this expanded approach however leads to a significant missing moment, and we explore just how massive a missed opportunity that is. Get ready, this will make a big impact.
Burton added lots of awesome characters — ghosts, undead workers, and even the famous "shrinkers." Charles and Delia show up post-death. And we explore additional aspects of Netherworld – like Wolf Jackson’s office (that's the detective!), an immigration area (whoa!), and that infamous Soul Train platform (awesome!). While lots of those old and new characters hang out in Netherworld, a specific moment stood out; because that choice creates additional interest through some missed potential that makes that part so appealing! Let’s see exactly what had transpired in the film!
Joey Chestnut: The Hot Dog-Eating Champion Who Almost Made it to the Afterlife!
Tim Burton talks during his commentary track on the Beetlejuice 2 digital release (thanks, Warner Bros!) about creating those Netherworld denizens! He made a super fun character: a guy who choked during a hot dog eating contest – a super early creation and character for the sequel; we learn just how much his original ideas changed as it went into the making of that sequel itself.
Burton wanted a particular star: the champion hot dog eater, Joey Chestnut! The idea's completely bonkers; but the sheer genius is exactly why it made so much sense! Unfortunately, Chestnut was training for that major Fourth of July Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest; and later for his later September 2024 Netflix showdown. The opportunity was completely missed because of that intense competition! What happened really changed this entirely.
Why Chestnut's Cameo Would've Been Perfect!
That missed Chestnut cameo showcases something else entirely. Think about that only "famous" deceased person in the original movie – Miss Argentina. Her suicide forces her into being a civil servant. We only got bits about Wolf Jackson's role as a detective – there were no explanations! That is one significant shortcoming which ultimately impacts everything related.
Getting someone like Chestnut, playing that crazy "dead-Chestnut" character; would highlight what happens to dead celebrities; an important aspect to the show which adds significant details and could answer previously left questions concerning various details surrounding how Netherworld’s inhabitants come to be. Even if the goal wasn't to specifically deliver some important context about the afterlife; it would have created some pretty funny moments only Tim Burton could really come up with and it certainly sounds rather compelling for such an eccentric and wildly famous director. It would've easily been epic.
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity For More Netherworld Weirdness!
Beetlejuice 2 had some problems: its release, reviews, etc. are currently being evaluated by both critics and audiences alike, leading to mixed opinions across various social platforms! Yet its weird and memorable choices really are part of its appeal. And while there might have been numerous aspects already available to enhance the cinematic aspects; it is a really well-made sequel and showcases numerous attempts to expand Netherworld; making that missed Chestnut cameo truly disappointing for some viewers. Those fans craving that darkly comedic charm which had only really made that universe itself feel even greater! Its absence would only serve to reduce its possible charm; which adds that crucial extra ingredient. Those kinds of silly details—a big contrast to much of the series' overall themes of dealing with very real problems in people's afterlife!
