Justin Theroux Shares the Origins of His 'Goth-Adjacent' Style (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty

Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty

Justin Therouxknows what look works for him: “Usually a boot and a black jean,” he tells PEOPLE.

The actor-filmmaker, 53, was favoring all-black looks long beforeTim Burtoncast him inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice(in theaters now), the long-awaited sequel to the director’s 1988comedy-horror classic.

“I mean, there’s a really good case to be made that I haven’t changed what I’ve been wearing since I was 14,” he adds. “I was sort of emo, punk, whatever you want to call it back in the day.”

(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

Meanwhile on the red carpet, Theroux, who is newlyengaged to Nicole Brydon Bloom, often wears mostly black or neutral ensembles when posing alongside with theGilded Ageactress.

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Playing the “insufferable” Rory inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, love interest to Ryder’s Lydia, was a fun opportunity to “goth it up a little bit, put a little eyeliner on,” he says. And although the movie’sColleen Atwood-designed costumes were “nothing I would wear in my daily life,” Theroux admits, he and Ryder and their costarJenna Ortega“were so excited for our wardrobe.”

(Left-right:) Jenna Ortega, Catherine O’Hara, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton at the ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ photo call on Aug. 17.Santiago Felipe/WireImage

Santiago Felipe/WireImage

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Also joining originalBeetlejuicestars Ryder,Michael KeatonandCatherine O’Harain the sequel areMonica Bellucci,Danny DeVitoandWillem Dafoe. The inventive and immersive cinematic world that Burton, Atwood, production designerBo Welchand screenwriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar built, says Theroux, was a dream come true for that inner goth kid.

“To step onto set and see Winona in her sort of black petticoat dress, and her black, sharp bangs, and her smoky eye, it just was so fun,” he recalls.

“I have such a soft spot in my heart forBeetlejuice, and it’s one of those miraculous moments in life where you’re like, ‘Someone just handed me the key to the front door of that movie, and I get to walk into that world.’”

Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis in theaters Sept. 6.

source: people.com