Warning: Spoilers for Beetlejuice 2 ahead!Jeremy was not at all who he pretended to be when he first met Astrid in Beetlejuice 2, and a clever detail surrounding Lydia hid his true identity. Arthur Conti's Jeremy was one of the new characters in Beetlejuice 2 alongside Jenna Ortega, who played Lydia's teenage daughter Astrid. At first, it seemed like Jeremy would be an innocent love interest for the youngest member of the Deetz family, but that was not the case. Jeremy turned out to be a ghost that tricked Astrid into nearly swapping her life for his.
Though Jeremy almost succeeded in his plan to get his life back, Betelgeuse saved Astrid after being reunited with Lydia and her dead father, Richard, who worked in the afterlife. The teen spirit was sent to Hell, which seemed like a fitting fate based on Jeremy's Beetlejuice 2 backstory. After killing both of his parents in gruesome ways, Jeremy fell out of his treehouse as the police tried to arrest him, resulting in his own death. He may have been trapped at his home for over 20 years, but Beetlejuice 2 had a way to keep his identity hidden.
Lydia's "Strange & Unusual" Gifts Made Jeremy Look Like A Normal Teen In Beetlejuice 2
Lydia Didn't Notice Jeremy Was A Ghost
Arthur Conti's character being a villain was one of the sequel's biggest twists, but there were plenty of clues suggesting Jeremy was a ghost in Beetlejuice 2. With that said, the movie used Lydia to help hide Jeremy's true identity. When dropping off Astrid on Halloween night, Lydia saw Jeremy peering from the attic window. She only got a quick glimpse, but Lydia didn't notice any red flags because her gifts allowed her to see Jeremy in his ghost form as if he were an ordinary teen.
Using Astrid and Lydia as the only characters who directly see Jeremy was a clever trick, considering both members of the Deetz family can see and communicate with the dead.
Had anyone else dropped off Astrid, they wouldn't have seen Jeremy, and they may have been more receptive to the state of the house looking abandoned. Using Astrid and Lydia as the only characters who directly see Jeremy was a clever trick, considering both members of the Deetz family can see and communicate with the dead. It wasn't until Jeremy nearly carried out his nefarious plan that Astrid realized she shared her mom's "strange and unusual" gifts, but it was a great way to hide Jeremy's secret before the big reveal.
Beetlejuice 2 Showed How Lydia's Powers Can Backfire
The Consequences Of Lydia's Ghost Gift Aren't Always Positive
The original Beetlejuice movie showed how Lydia's powers could have positive effects; her bond with Adam and Barbara Maitland would be the most significant example. Still, the unique gift likely came with a few negative consequences, which were hinted at in Beetlejuice 2. For one, Lydia didn't seem to be able to entirely turn off her gift, meaning she would always be able to see the dead roaming around. This was evident when Lydia took a break from filming Ghost House and encountered the dead woman in the bathroom.
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Hidden Beetlejuice 2 Detail Hints How Much Lydia's Ghost Show Hurts The Afterlife
Lydia learned a lot about the dead and afterlife in Tim Burton’s original movie, but Beetlejuice 2 suggests that her show does more harm than good.
The Jeremy encounter in Beetlejuice 2 would be another example of how Lydia's (and now Astrid's) powers could backfire. Seeing as Astrid and Lydia didn't even realize Jeremy was dead at first, it means those with the same gifts could be tricked by the dead. While regular encounters could be more like an annoyance, like the bathroom ghost, running into spirits hiding the fact they are dead to prey on the living could be dangerous.
Release Date September 6, 2024
Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures
Writers Alfred Gough , Miles Millar , Mike Vukadinovich , Seth Grahame-Smith , Michael McDowell , Larry Wilson
Runtime 104 Minutes
English (US) ·