How Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's Lydia Has Changed Over 36 Years Detailed By Winona Ryder

Summary Winona Ryder reveals that it was a challenge evolving Lydia in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice while staying true to aspects of the character's roots.

Lydia has a paranormal TV show in the sequel, as well as a daughter.

Jenna Ortega's Astrid appears to be occupying a role in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice similar to Lydia's in the original.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star Winona Ryder explains the evolution of her character over the last 36 years. Directed once again by Tim Burton, the sequel to 1988's Beetlejuice features Michael Keaton returning as Betelgeuse, the chaotic bio-exorcist who was hired by a deceased couple to purge their old house of its new family. The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailers have already revealed Keaton's return, in addition to teasing Ryder's return as Lydia Deetz and Catherine O'Hara's return as Delia.

In a recent interview with Empire, Ryder teases that Lydia will be an evolved woman in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, at least in some ways. Crucially, the character now has her own TV show called "Ghost House With Lydia Deetz," as well as a daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega). Ryder affirms, however, that certain aspects of the character from the original movie remain. Check out her full comment below:

“I went through so many stages of, ‘Who is she now?’, but I always wanted to have it be Lydia. She can’t lose who she was. She can’t be the same person, she can’t be just completely deadpan, she has to have evolved, but she also has to have kept that thing she had when we first met her. So that was the big challenge for me.”

Lydia's Beeltejuice Beeltejuice Evolution Looks Promising

How Jenna Ortega's Astrid Fits In

In addition to, of course, Keaton's Betelgeuse, Lydia was a standout character from the original movie. She ultimately also becomes crucial to the fate of Keaton's character during the Beetlejuice ending in which the chaotic bio-exorcist attempts to marry her. Despite her effective presentation in the original movie, Ryder is right that the character can't have remained relatively unchanged over the past three-plus decades.

Lydia having a TV show may seem like a big leap for the character, but it does make sense with elements that were established in the original movie. Lydia was always very passionate about photography, for example, and had an interest in the paranormal and the more morbid aspects of life. "Ghost House With Lydia Deetz" combines these two interests in many ways and serves as a logical extrapolation of the character.

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While Lydia has certainly evolved since audiences last saw her, the inclusion of Ortega as Astrid is an exciting decision. From what's been revealed in trailers, Astrid is very much like a young Lydia, allowing Beetlejuice Beetlejuice to honor some of the original film's characterizations. It remains to be seen how Beetlejuice Beetlejuice's Lydia will truly compare to her old self, but things are certainly looking promising.

Source: Empire