Jenna Ortega’s latest project is launching in Italy…
The 81st Venice Film Festival will open with the world premiere of Tim Burton‘s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, starring the 21-year-old Mexican American actress.
Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe star alongside Ortega in the highly anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice.
The Warner Bros film will be screened out of competition on Wednesday, August 28 at the Sala Grande, the festival said Tuesday.
This will mark a return to the sort of glitzy red carpet with which Venice has become synonymous, after last year’s Lido event had less star-wattage than usual as it took place amid the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Warner Bros starts the international rollout on Beetlejuice 2 on September 4 with domestic joining September 6.
Said Venice chief Alberto Barbera today, “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.”
Added Burton, “I’m very excited by this. It means a lot to me to have the world premiere of this film at the Venice Film Festival.”
In the sequel to Beetlejuice, Burton’s classic 1988 supernatural comedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River following an unexpected tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice (Keaton), Lydia’s (Ryder) life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Ortega), discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.
This year’s Venice runs from August 28-September 7 with French star Isabelle Huppert acting as jury president.
It appears Americans can’t wait to see Jenna Ortega’s next performance…
Fandango has released its list of the most-anticipated wide-release movies in 2024, with the 21-year-old Mexican American actress and Wednesday star’s Beetlejuice 2 making the Top 5 on several lists.
Ortega is starring in the sequel to the popular film Beetlejuice, which Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder.
She’ll portray the daughter of Ryder’s returning character, Lydia. It’s one of the most anticipated new performances on the big screen, coming in at No. 2 behind Lady Gaga’s performance as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux.
Beetlejuice 2, meantime, ranks No. 1 on the most anticipated horror/suspense/thriller and comedy in 2024. In addition, it comes in at No. 2 on Fandango’s most anticipated wide-release of 2024.
But Ortega isn’t the only Latinx artist to make Fandango’s list…
Pedro Pascal comes in at No. 5 on the list of most anticipated new performances on the big screen for his role in Gladiator 2.
The 48-year-old Chilean actor’s role in the sequel to the epic historical drama Gladiator remains a mystery.
Fandango, the NBCUniversal-owned digital movie brand surveyed 8,000 ticket buyers about the titles they’re most looking forward to, and also gauged their mood heading into next year. About 81% of respondents say they are more excited about films in 2024 than they were heading into 2023, with 88% declaring their intention to go to multiple films.
Here are the full results from Fandango’s 2024 Most Anticipated Movies Survey:
2024’s Most Anticipated Wide-Release Films: Deadpool 3
Beetlejuice 2
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Dune: Part Two
Venom 3
Despicable Me 4
Inside Out 2
Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim
Gladiator 2
A Quiet Place: Day One
Most Anticipated New Performances on the Big Screen: Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux
Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice 2
Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked Part 1
Chris Pratt as Garfield’ in the new Garfield Movie
Pedro Pascal in Gladiator 2
Most Anticipated Heroes: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in Deadpool 3
Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson in Deadpool 3
Steve Carell as Gru in Despicable Me 4
Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock in Venom 3
Jack Black as Po in Kung Fu Panda 4
Most Anticipated Villains: Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice in Beetlejuice 2
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie à Deux
The Aliens from A Quiet Place: Day One
Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha in Dune: Part Two
Most Anticipated Action/Adventure (Non-Superhero) Movies: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Dune: Part Two
Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim
Gladiator 2
A Quiet Place: Day One
Most Anticipated Family Movies: Despicable Me 4
Inside Out 2
Kung Fu Panda 4
Mufasa: The Lion King
Garfield
Most Anticipated Comedies: Beetlejuice 2
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Bad Boys 4
Mean Girls
Wicked Part 1
Most Anticipated Superhero Movies: Deadpool 3
Venom 3
Joker: Folie à Deux
Transformers One
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
Most Anticipated Horror/Suspense/Thrillers: Beetlejuice 2
Alien: Romulus
Nosferatu
Twisters
The Watchers
Most Anticipated Theatrical Genres: Action/Adventure
Comedy
Superhero/Comic Book
Drama
Animated/Family
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer has (Spam)alot to look forward to.
The 466-year-old half-Puerto Rican musical theater actress/singer will star in Broadway’s upcoming revival of the Monty Python musical Spamalot.
Rodriguez Kritzer will reprise her role of Lady of the Lake from the popular Kennedy Center production.
She’ll be joined by James Monroe Iglehart, Michael Urie, Jimmy Smagula and Nik Walker, who will also reprise their Kennedy Center production roles.
Ethan Slater and Christopher Fitzgerald are joining the cast as newcomers.
Performances of the Monty Python musical comedy begin Tuesday, October 31, at the St. James Theatre ahead of an official opening night of Thursday, November 16.
Also returning from the Washington D.C. production is Josh Rhodes as director and choreographer.
With a book & lyrics by Python’s Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Idle, the original 2005 Broadway production was nominated for 14 Tony Awards and won three including Best Musical.
The creative team for the revival, also announced today in addition to the casting, includes scenic and projection design by Paul Tate dePoo III, costume design by Jen Caprio, lighting design by Cory Pattak, sound design by Kai Harada & Haley Parcher, wig design by Tom Watson and music direction by John Bell.
The role of Sir Lancelot has yet to be cast.
The musical is based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and features such songs as “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “The Song That Goes Like This,” “Find Your Grail” and more.
Rodriguez Kritzer most recently starred on Broadway in theBeetlejuicemusical.
20-year-old Puerto Rican and Mexican American Golden Globe-nominated actress and Wednesday star may be reuniting with Tim Burton on his next project as Hollywood insiders report Ortega is in early talks to reunite with the Wednesday creator on Beetlejuice 2 at Warner Bros.
Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder are reportedly expected to reprise their roles with Burton directing.
Production is expected to start in late May or early June in London, but the film’s budget hasn’t been set, resulting in some back and forth.
If a deal is made, sources say Ortega would play the daughter of Lydia, the character played by Ryder in the Burton-helmed original.
Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones and Catherine O’Hara also starred in the original film, which grossed $80 million on a $15 million budget. It also scored a Best Makeup Oscar at the 1989 Academy Awards.
Ortega has been on a roll as of late, led by her record-breaking Addams Familyseries Wednesday. The show has smashed Netflix viewing records and has been renewed for a second season. She’s hosting Saturday Night Liveon March 11 and is appearing on in Scream VI.
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer is juiced for her next role…
The 44-year-old half-Puerto Rican musical theater actress/singer will be back on stage in Broadway’s Beetlejuice when it returns this spring.
Rodriguez Kritzer, who originated the roles of Delia/Miss Argentina, will be joined by much of the cast that was in place before the March 2020 pandemic shutdown.
Joining the previously announced Alex Brightman in the title role and Rodriguez Kritzer will be fellow returnees Kerry Butler, David Josefsberg, Adam Dannheisser, Kelvin Moon Loh, Danny Rutigliano and Dana Steingold.
New to the production will be Elizabeth Teeter as Lydia Deetz, Michelle Aravena as Miss Argentina and Zonya Love as Maxine Dean/Juno.
The musical begins performances at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre on Friday, April 8.
Aravena has appeared on Broadway in A Bronx Tale, Rocky, Jersey BoysandA Chorus Line.
The full cast of Beetlejuice also includes Kate Bailey, Will Blum, Ryan Breslin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Brooke Engen, Eric Anthony Johnson, Andrew Kober, Elliott Mattox, Mateo Melendez, Ramone Owens, Commodore C. Primous III, Nevada Riley and Graham Stevens.
Based on the 1988 film starring Michael Keaton, the musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, an offbeat teenager whose life changes when her family moves into a home inhabited by a recently deceased couple and the green-tinted-haired demon Beetlejuice. The musical features an original score by Eddie Perfect, and a book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, with choreography by Connor Gallagher.
Beetlejuice originally opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre on Thursday, April 25, 2019, and closed along with the rest of Broadway in March 2020 due to the pandemic shutdown.
The Music Man currently occupies the Winter Garden, necessitating Beetlejuice‘s change of venue.
The 2019 Tony Award nominations have been announced, with the 27-year-old part-Spanish American actor/singer earning recognition.
Fontana, previously nominated in 2013 for his starring role as Prince Topher in the Broadwaymusical Cinderella, is nominated in the Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical category for his work in Tootsie.
Fontana portrays Michael Dorsey/Dorothy Michaels in the Broadway musical adaptation of the film of the same name, which starred Dustin Hoffman as the lead character.
Eva Noblezadais now a two-time Tony Award nominee…
The half-Mexican American actress/singer, who received a Tony nomination in 2017 for starring in the 2017 revival of Miss Saigon, is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for portrayingEurydice in Hadestown.
Prior to appearing on Broadway in Hadestown, Noblezada opened in the lead role of Eurydice in the Royal National Theatre‘s production of the musical on the West End.
Sergio Trujillowill be crossing his fingers on Broadway’s biggest night.
The internationally recognized Colombian choreographer is nominated in the Best Choreography category for his work in Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations.
Trujillo previously earned a Tony Award nod in the same category for his work on the Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan musical On Your Feet!
Hadestowntopped all nominees with nods in 14 categories including best musical, where it will go up against Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations, Beetlejuice, The Promand Tootsie.
This year’s Tony Awards will air at 8:00 p.m. on CBS on June 9 from Radio City Music Hall, with James Cordenserving as host.
Here’s the full list of nominations:
Best Play The Ferryman Choir Boy Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus What the Constitution Means to Me Ink
Best Musical Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations Beetlejuice Hadestown The Prom Tootsie
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Play Paddy Considine, The Ferryman Bryan Cranston, Network Jeff Daniels, To Kill a Mockingbird Adam Driver, Burn This Jeremy Pope, Choir Boy
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play Annette Benning, Arthur Miller’s All My Sons Laura Donnelly, The Ferryman Elaine May, The Waverly Gallery Janet McTeer, Bernhardt/Hamlet Laurie Metcalf, Hillary and Clinton Heidi Schreck, What the Constitution Means to Me
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Brooks Ashmanskas, The Prom Derrick Baskin, Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations Alex Brightman, Beetlejuice Damon Daunno, Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Santino Fontana, Tootsie
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Stephanie J. Block, The Cher Show Caitlin Kinnunen, The Prom Beth Leavel, The Prom Eva Noblezada, Hadestown Kelli O’Hara, Kiss Me, Kate
Best Orchestrations Michael Chorney + Todd Sickafoose, Hadestown Simon Hale, Tootsie Larry Hochman, Kiss Me, Kate Daniel Kluger, Rogers + Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Harold Wheeler, Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations
Best Revival of a Play Arthur Miller’s All My Sons
The Boys in the Band Burn This Torch Song The Waverly Gallery
Best Costume Design of a Musical Michael Krass, Hadestown William Ivey Long, Beetlejuice William Ivey Long, Tootsie Bob Mackie, The Cher Show Paul Tazewell, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg — The Life and Times of the Temptations
Best Revival of a Musical Kiss Me, Kate Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
Best Scenic Design of a Musical Robert Brill + Peter Nigrini, Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations Peter England, King Kong Rachel Hauck, Hadestown Laura Jellinek, Rogers + Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! David Korins, Beetlejuice
Best Sound Design of a Musical Peter Hylenski, Beetlejuice Peter Hylenski, King Kong Steve Canyon Kennedy, Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations Drew Levy, Rogers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Nevin Steinberg + Jessica Paz, Hadestown
Best Original Score Be More Chill,music & lyrics by Joe Iconis
Beetlejuice, music & lyrics by Eddie Perfect Hadestown, music & lyrics Anais Mitchell The Prom, music by Matthew Sklar & lyrics by Chad Beguelin Tootsie, music & lyrics by David Yazbek
Best Book of a Musical Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations, Dominique Morisseau Beetlejuice, Scott Brown & Anthony King Hadestown, Anais Mitchell The Prom, Bob Martin & Chad Beguelin Tootsie, Robert Horn
Best Choreography Camille A. Brown, Choir Boy Warren Carlyle, Kiss Me, Kate Denis Jones, Tootsie David Neumann, Hadestown Sergio Trujillo, Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations
Best Scene Design of a Play Miriam Buether, To Kill a Mockingbird Bunny Christie, Ink Rob Howell, The Ferryman Santo Loquasto, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus Jan Versweyveld, Network
Best Costume Design of a Play Rob Howell, The Ferryman Toni-Leslie James, Bernhardt/Hamlet Clint Ramos, Torch Song Ann Roth, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus Ann Roth, To Kill a Mockingbird
Best Sound Design of a Play Adam Cork, Ink Scott Lehrer, To Kill a Mockingbird Fitz Patton, Choir Boy Nick Powell, The Ferryman Eric Sleichim, Network
Best Lighting Design of a Play Neil Austin, Ink Jules Fisher + Peggy Eisenhauer, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus Peter Mumford, The Ferryman Jennifer Tipton, To Kill a Mockingbird Jan Versweyveld + Tal Yarden, Network
The Latino actor has been added to the cast of Broadway’s Beetlejuicewhen the new musical begins previews next month.
Melendez will star alongside last fall’s pre-Broadway cast members Jill Abramovitz, Kelvin Moon Loh, Danny Rutigliano and Dana Steingold.
Other cast members include Alex Brightman(in the title role), Sophia Anne Caruso, Kerry Butler, Rob McClure, Adam Dannheisserand Leslie Kritzer.
Rounding out the 25-member cast include Tessa Alves, Gilbert L. Bailey II, Will Blum, Johnny Brantley III, Ryan Breslin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Brooke Engen, Abe Goldfarb, Eric Anthony Johnson, Elliott Mattox, Sean Montgomery, Ramone Owens, Presley Ryanand Kim Sava.
Beetlejuice starts previews Thursday, March 28 at the Winter Garden Theatre. Opening night is April 25.
Beetlejuice, based on Tim Burton’s 1988 film starring Michael Keaton, is directed by Alex Timbers, with an original score by Eddie Perfect, book by Scott Brown& Anthony King, and choreography by Connor Gallagher.
Other credits for the Broadway production include David Korins (scenic design), William Ivey Long (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting), Peter Hylenski (sound), Peter Nigrini (projections), Michael Curry(puppet design), Jeremy Chernick(special effects) and Michael Weber(illusions).
Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe star alongside Ortega in the highly anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice.
