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Call him the "Ghost with the Most," a ladies' man, or what one will, but one must never actually say his name--especially not three times--unless one is willing to put up with Betelgeuse's lecherous antics.
There is very little information known about Betelgeuse's past: no his true name, date or place of birth, or even his motivations. All that is known about this "freelance bio-exorcist" is that he hates the living, and will do anything to con them into releasing him from the land of the dead into our world. Betelgeuse's release from (and return to) is secured by saying his name three times.
I n the 1988 Tim Burton-directed horror comedy Beetlejuice, actor Michael Keaton portrayed Betelgeuse as a lecherous con-man out to rid of the world of the living through his bio-exorcism. Betelgeuse takes advantage of the naivete of the newly-dead Maitlands, promising to rid their former home of its new occupants, the Deetz family. Betelguese wins the Maitlands' trust, only to betray them in his bid to return to the world of the living by marrying young Lydia Deetz. The Maitlands ultimately defeat Betelgeuse, sending him back to land of the dead for good.
The animated incarnation of Betelgeuse differs greatly from his filmic counterpart. For instance, his name is never spelled "Betelgeuse," but rather the dumbed-down-for-audiences "Beetlejuice." Also, Beetlejuice is still a con-man like Betelgeuse before him, but is not a bad person per se, and is best friends with Lydia (who, in the film, was quite repulsed by Betelgeuse). Beetlejuice in the animated series is simply a merry (but still gross) prankster, having fun by tricking both the living and dead alike.
Betelgeuse's appears in three video games: one based on the film, and two others based on the animated series. The first was Beetlejuice in: Skeletons in the Closet, a DOS game developed by Riedel Software Productions and published by Hi-Tech Expressions in 1990. Here Betelgeuse appears as he did in animated series, fighting and destroying skeletons, allowing Lydia to recover their remains for bonuses. The second game is the only movie tie-in, published and developed in 1991 by LJN and Rare, respectively, on the Nintendo Entertainment System, is a simple adventure-style platformer in which Betelgeuse collects "scare points" to aid an unnamed dead couple (presumably the Maitlands) rid their home of its living occupants. There is also a Game Boy platformer, developed by Rare and published by LJN in 1992, in which players control Beetlejuice as he attempts to rescue Lydia through various household stages (an attic, kitchen, and boiler room, amongst others).
The self-described "Ghost with the Most" and dead ladies' man. Claims that, as a bio-exorcist, he can rid the dead of the ever-so-pesky living.
Overview
Do you think I'm qualified?
There is very little information known about Betelgeuse's past: no his true name, date or place of birth, or even his motivations. All that is known about this "freelance bio-exorcist" is that he hates the living, and will do anything to con them into releasing him from the land of the dead into our world. Betelgeuse's release from (and return to) is secured by saying his name three times.
Beetlejuice (Film - 1988)
Hey, something's not right here...
Beetlejuice (Animated Series - September 9, 1989 to December 6, 1991)
What? No, our relationship isn't totally inappropriate!
Gaming History
Yes, the lights are shooting lasers.
Betelgeuse games
Edit
| Name | Platforms | Developer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Beetlejuice |
NES | Rare, Ltd. |
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Beetlejuice in: Skeletons in the Closet |
PC | Riedel Software Productions, Inc. |
