Beetlejuice 2 is the film picks up 36 years after the original, bringing back beloved characters while introducing new ones, including Lydia Deetz’s daughter, Astrid, played by Jenna Ortega. Despite its fantastical story, the movie grounds itself in reality by utilizing several distinctive landmarks that enhance its narrative.
Where is Beetlejuice 2 Filmed?
The highly anticipated sequel to Tim Burton’s cult classic, Beetlejuice, returns with a visually stunning mix of elaborate set designs and real-world locations.
East Corinth, Vermont
Much like the original 1988 film, Beetlejuice 2 extensively uses the quaint town of East Corinth, Vermont, to represent the fictional community of Winter River.
This location plays a crucial role in maintaining the connection between the two films, with the sequel opening with overhead shots of the town and featuring Jenna Ortega as Astrid Deetz cycling through significant landmarks, including Miss Shannon’s School for Girls.
Miss Shannon’s School for Girls:
The old Masonic lodge in East Corinth was transformed into the school, reflecting the same eerie Gothic aesthetic that characterized the first film.
The Deetz House:
The production team purpose-built the Deetz family home on a hillside overlooking the town, preserving its unique Gothic facade.
However, for Beetlejuice 2, the house is shrouded in black drapery for a post-funeral sequence, giving it a dramatically different appearance than the original.
While East Corinth remains the primary location for exterior shots, the town’s shop fronts and other areas were repurposed and redecorated to match the distinctive aesthetic of Beetlejuice 2, ensuring continuity between the two films.
Melrose, Massachusetts
While East Corinth is central to the film’s setting, some sequences require a location change.
Due to the unexpected SAG-AFTRA strike, production temporarily shifted to Melrose, Massachusetts, where several nighttime Halloween scenes were filmed. Despite this, most of the movie’s events are expected to remain within the fictional town of Winter River.
Halloween Nighttime Sequences:
Melrose served as the backdrop for these scenes, providing a slightly different yet complementary setting to East Corinth.
Tim Burton has confirmed that only a day and a half of shooting remained when the strike occurred, making Melrose a minor yet notable addition to the film’s location roster.
England
While East Corinth and Melrose handled most of the exterior scenes, most of Beetlejuice 2 was filmed in England. This marks a departure from the original, which used the Culver City Studios in California for its interior shots. The decision to relocate production to London and other English locations was influenced by the uncertainty surrounding the strikes in 2023.
London Studio Work:
Extensive interior scenes were filmed in London studios, leveraging the city’s resources to bring Burton’s darkly whimsical world to life.
Hitchin, Hertfordshire:
An abandoned boarding school in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, was used for an as-yet-unknown wedding sequence. This location adds a layer of mystery and intrigue, mixing English and American settings to enhance the film’s Gothic atmosphere.
The inclusion of English locations provided a practical solution during production and introduced new visual elements that complement the film’s transatlantic narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Where was Beetlejuice 2 filmed?
A: Beetlejuice 2 was filmed across various locations, including East Corinth, Vermont; Melrose, Massachusetts; and several sites in England, such as London and Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Q: Does Beetlejuice 2 revisit locations from the original movie?
A: Yes, Beetlejuice 2 revisits East Corinth, Vermont, which also served as the fictional town of Winter River in the original film. The movie also features new locations in Massachusetts and England.
Q: Why was some of Beetlejuice 2 filmed in England?
A: The production moved to England for studio work and certain exterior shots due to the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023, offering new settings that blend seamlessly with the film’s American locations.
Q: What is the significance of the Deetz house in Beetlejuice 2?
A: The Deetz house, with its Gothic facade, is a key location in both films. In Beetlejuice 2, the house is shown shrouded in black drapery for a post-funeral sequence, reflecting the movie’s darker tone.