Jeffrey Jones Doesn’t Return inBeetlejuiceSequel After His Controversy. Here’s How the Movie Includes His Character

Mar. 15, 2025

Jeffrey Jones as Charles Deetz in ‘Beetlejuice’.Photo:Geffen Film/Warner Brothers/AlamyThenew sequeltocomedy-horror classicBeetlejuiceincludes plenty of familiar faces.Michael Keatonreturns as the demonic title character, whileWinona Ryderas ghost-empath Lydia Deetz andCatherine O’Haraas her artsy stepmother Delia again play major roles.But Jeffrey Jones, who played Deetz patriarch Charles in directorTim Burton’s 1988 cult hit, is notably missing fromBeetlejuice Beetlejuice(in theaters now). The movie finds clever ways to make the character of Charles a key part of the story while avoiding the actor who originally portrayed him — presumably because of Jones’ legal troubles.Jones, now 77, pleaded no contest in 2003 to charges of possession of child pornography over his alleged hiring of a 14-year-old boy to pose for lewd snapshots. AsEntertainment Weeklyreported at the time, theFerris Bueller’s Day OffandAmadeusstar was sentenced to five years probation, counseling and registration as a sex offender for the rest of his life.In Florida in 2004 and then in California in 2010, Jones was arrested for failing to update his sex offender status. After pleading guilty to the latter charge, his sentence included hours of community service and additional years of probation, asBBC Newsreported.(Left-right:) Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones and Glenn Shadix in ‘Beetlejuice’.PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/AlamyBurton and the stars ofBeetlejuicehave not commented on Jones or his absence in the new film. However, the way Charles’ fate in the long-awaited sequel is handled may speak for itself. (Spoilers forBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceplot details follow!)Charles’ wife Delia breaks the news to Lydia early in the new movie that he has died. Over her narration, Burton uses a stop-motion animation to explain the character’s fate: on a trip abroad for a bird-watching adventure, Charles ended up in the ocean following his plane’s crash landing. A shark chomps off his head and shoulders, killing him. The Deetz family mourns their patriarch at his funeral.But because the world ofBeetlejuiceincludes a campy depiction of the bureaucratic afterlife, Charles isn’t gone from the story. Down in the netherworld, a body with its head and shoulders bitten off bumbles about, spurting blood while it gurgles somewhat incoherently. An actor who is not Jones provides the voice for what is ultimately one of Burton and his team’s many innovative designs for the recently deceased, who all bear the signs of their death.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.(Left-right:) Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder and Justin Theroux in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’.Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. PicturesOther stars whoBeetlejuicefans may want to see in the long-awaited sequel include Glenn Shadix as amateur paranormal expert Otho Fenlock and Sylvia Sidney as deceased case worker Juno. Sadly, they are among the actors who have passed onto the afterlife offscreen; Shadix died in 2010 at age 58 while Sidney died in 1999 at age 88.Alec BaldwinandGeena Davisdon’t returnas Adam and Barbara Maitland — the sweet, Harry Belafonte-loving couple whose death in the original film kicked off our introduction to Burton’s netherworld — because, as Lydia explains inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, they found a loophole that enabled the two to move on permanently.Besides, as Davis, 68, told PEOPLE in 2022, the inclusion of her and Baldwin’s deceased characters in the sequel would have been especially tricky. “I have a feeling thatghosts don’t age,” she pointed out. “How would they explain that they’re older?“Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceintroduces new starsJenna Ortega,Justin Theroux,Monica Bellucci,Danny DeVitoandWillem Dafoeto the franchise. It is in theaters now.

Jeffrey Jones as Charles Deetz in ‘Beetlejuice’.Photo:Geffen Film/Warner Brothers/Alamy

Geffen Film/Warner Brothers/Alamy

Thenew sequeltocomedy-horror classicBeetlejuiceincludes plenty of familiar faces.Michael Keatonreturns as the demonic title character, whileWinona Ryderas ghost-empath Lydia Deetz andCatherine O’Haraas her artsy stepmother Delia again play major roles.But Jeffrey Jones, who played Deetz patriarch Charles in directorTim Burton’s 1988 cult hit, is notably missing fromBeetlejuice Beetlejuice(in theaters now). The movie finds clever ways to make the character of Charles a key part of the story while avoiding the actor who originally portrayed him — presumably because of Jones’ legal troubles.Jones, now 77, pleaded no contest in 2003 to charges of possession of child pornography over his alleged hiring of a 14-year-old boy to pose for lewd snapshots. AsEntertainment Weeklyreported at the time, theFerris Bueller’s Day OffandAmadeusstar was sentenced to five years probation, counseling and registration as a sex offender for the rest of his life.In Florida in 2004 and then in California in 2010, Jones was arrested for failing to update his sex offender status. After pleading guilty to the latter charge, his sentence included hours of community service and additional years of probation, asBBC Newsreported.(Left-right:) Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones and Glenn Shadix in ‘Beetlejuice’.PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/AlamyBurton and the stars ofBeetlejuicehave not commented on Jones or his absence in the new film. However, the way Charles’ fate in the long-awaited sequel is handled may speak for itself. (Spoilers forBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceplot details follow!)Charles’ wife Delia breaks the news to Lydia early in the new movie that he has died. Over her narration, Burton uses a stop-motion animation to explain the character’s fate: on a trip abroad for a bird-watching adventure, Charles ended up in the ocean following his plane’s crash landing. A shark chomps off his head and shoulders, killing him. The Deetz family mourns their patriarch at his funeral.But because the world ofBeetlejuiceincludes a campy depiction of the bureaucratic afterlife, Charles isn’t gone from the story. Down in the netherworld, a body with its head and shoulders bitten off bumbles about, spurting blood while it gurgles somewhat incoherently. An actor who is not Jones provides the voice for what is ultimately one of Burton and his team’s many innovative designs for the recently deceased, who all bear the signs of their death.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.(Left-right:) Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder and Justin Theroux in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’.Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. PicturesOther stars whoBeetlejuicefans may want to see in the long-awaited sequel include Glenn Shadix as amateur paranormal expert Otho Fenlock and Sylvia Sidney as deceased case worker Juno. Sadly, they are among the actors who have passed onto the afterlife offscreen; Shadix died in 2010 at age 58 while Sidney died in 1999 at age 88.Alec BaldwinandGeena Davisdon’t returnas Adam and Barbara Maitland — the sweet, Harry Belafonte-loving couple whose death in the original film kicked off our introduction to Burton’s netherworld — because, as Lydia explains inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, they found a loophole that enabled the two to move on permanently.Besides, as Davis, 68, told PEOPLE in 2022, the inclusion of her and Baldwin’s deceased characters in the sequel would have been especially tricky. “I have a feeling thatghosts don’t age,” she pointed out. “How would they explain that they’re older?“Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceintroduces new starsJenna Ortega,Justin Theroux,Monica Bellucci,Danny DeVitoandWillem Dafoeto the franchise. It is in theaters now.

Thenew sequeltocomedy-horror classicBeetlejuiceincludes plenty of familiar faces.Michael Keatonreturns as the demonic title character, whileWinona Ryderas ghost-empath Lydia Deetz andCatherine O’Haraas her artsy stepmother Delia again play major roles.

But Jeffrey Jones, who played Deetz patriarch Charles in directorTim Burton’s 1988 cult hit, is notably missing fromBeetlejuice Beetlejuice(in theaters now). The movie finds clever ways to make the character of Charles a key part of the story while avoiding the actor who originally portrayed him — presumably because of Jones’ legal troubles.

Jones, now 77, pleaded no contest in 2003 to charges of possession of child pornography over his alleged hiring of a 14-year-old boy to pose for lewd snapshots. AsEntertainment Weeklyreported at the time, theFerris Bueller’s Day OffandAmadeusstar was sentenced to five years probation, counseling and registration as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

In Florida in 2004 and then in California in 2010, Jones was arrested for failing to update his sex offender status. After pleading guilty to the latter charge, his sentence included hours of community service and additional years of probation, asBBC Newsreported.

(Left-right:) Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones and Glenn Shadix in ‘Beetlejuice’.PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy

PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy

Burton and the stars ofBeetlejuicehave not commented on Jones or his absence in the new film. However, the way Charles’ fate in the long-awaited sequel is handled may speak for itself. (Spoilers forBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceplot details follow!)

Charles’ wife Delia breaks the news to Lydia early in the new movie that he has died. Over her narration, Burton uses a stop-motion animation to explain the character’s fate: on a trip abroad for a bird-watching adventure, Charles ended up in the ocean following his plane’s crash landing. A shark chomps off his head and shoulders, killing him. The Deetz family mourns their patriarch at his funeral.

But because the world ofBeetlejuiceincludes a campy depiction of the bureaucratic afterlife, Charles isn’t gone from the story. Down in the netherworld, a body with its head and shoulders bitten off bumbles about, spurting blood while it gurgles somewhat incoherently. An actor who is not Jones provides the voice for what is ultimately one of Burton and his team’s many innovative designs for the recently deceased, who all bear the signs of their death.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

(Left-right:) Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder and Justin Theroux in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’.Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. Pictures

Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros. Pictures

Other stars whoBeetlejuicefans may want to see in the long-awaited sequel include Glenn Shadix as amateur paranormal expert Otho Fenlock and Sylvia Sidney as deceased case worker Juno. Sadly, they are among the actors who have passed onto the afterlife offscreen; Shadix died in 2010 at age 58 while Sidney died in 1999 at age 88.

Alec BaldwinandGeena Davisdon’t returnas Adam and Barbara Maitland — the sweet, Harry Belafonte-loving couple whose death in the original film kicked off our introduction to Burton’s netherworld — because, as Lydia explains inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, they found a loophole that enabled the two to move on permanently.

Besides, as Davis, 68, told PEOPLE in 2022, the inclusion of her and Baldwin’s deceased characters in the sequel would have been especially tricky. “I have a feeling thatghosts don’t age,” she pointed out. “How would they explain that they’re older?”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceintroduces new starsJenna Ortega,Justin Theroux,Monica Bellucci,Danny DeVitoandWillem Dafoeto the franchise. It is in theaters now.

source: people.com