Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to open Venice Film Festival

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 2 - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long awaited sequel to Tim Burton's cult 1988 fantasy horror comedy, will open the Venice Film Festival with its world premiere on Wednesday 28 August, organisers said Tuesday.
    The follow-up, again directed by Burton and starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Justin Theroux, and Monica Bellucci, and with Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe, is Out of Competition at the 81st edition of the world's oldest film fest, which runs until Saturday September 7.
    "I am thrilled," said Burton.
    "It means a lot to me to have the world premiere of this film at the Venice Film Festival." Fest director Alberto Barbera said: "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice marks the long-awaited return of one of the most iconic characters of Tim Burton's cinema, but also the happy confirmation of the extraordinary visionary talent and the masterly realization of one of the most fascinating auteurs of his time.
    "The Venice Biennale is honored and proud to host the world premiere of a work that features a surprising swing of creative imagination and driving hallucinatory rhythm." (ANSA).