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Say his name twice — but not three times! Beetlejuice is returning in a long-awaited upcoming sequel, which reunites star <\/span>Michael Keaton<\/a> and director <\/span>Tim Burton<\/a> for a follow-up to the 1988 cult classic.<\/span><\/p>\n Beetlejuice Beetlejuice<\/span><\/em> — set for theatrical release on Sept. 6 — returns to the afterlife to continue the story of Keaton’s titular “bio-exorcist,” and when the actor sat down with ET’s Cassie DiLaura to discuss his upcoming film, <\/span>Knox Goes Away<\/span><\/em>, he shared a little bit about finally making the long-awaited sequel.<\/span><\/p>\n “It took a while to get there,” he admitted. “I didn’t really think we were gonna do it and didn’t want to do it, various times [in the] last few years, but it was more fun than the other one.”<\/span><\/p>\n Winona Ryder<\/a> and <\/span>Catherine O’Hara<\/a> return for the sequel, with <\/span>Jenna Ortega<\/a> — who worked with Burton on <\/span>Wednesday<\/span><\/em> — joining the cast as the daughter of Ryder’s character, Lydia Deetz.<\/span><\/p>\n For Keaton, returning to Beetlejuice’s world with a “tremendous cast” was “really fun.”<\/span><\/p>\n “[Tim] was really, really great — back in his comfort zone,” he added. “I could tell he was having fun. Which is really contagious, when you’re around that.”<\/span><\/p>\n Keaton returns to the director’s chair himself for <\/span>Knox Goes Away,<\/span><\/em> his first time behind the camera since 2009’s<\/span> The Merry Gentleman.\u00a0<\/span><\/em>He also plays the titular hitman, who struggles to help his estranged son (James Marsden) after being diagnosed with a rare form of dementia.<\/span><\/p>\n The noir-inspired film features a host of Keaton’s famous friends, including Marcia Gay Harden and <\/span>Al Pacino<\/a> as Knox’s mentor.<\/span><\/p>\n “I know it sounds arrogant or stupid on my part,” Keaton said of casting the Hollywood legend, “but you have to think about all the details. So when I run through the scene in my head and say, ‘What am I, nuts?’ Of course. You know, this is going to work.”<\/span><\/p>\n “I knew him a little bit, and I called him and we had a nice chat,” he continued. “He was just easy to work with, as you can imagine, and flexible, and always shows up with ideas.”<\/span><\/p>\n Beetlejuice Beetlejuice <\/span><\/em>is set to creep into theaters on Sept. 6. <\/span>Knox Goes Away <\/span><\/em>is in theaters March 15.<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED CONTENT:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n