Another piece of the puzzle of the Beetlejuice sequel might be falling into place as Winona Ryder has expressed her interest in joining the Tim Burton-directed sequel. Ryder, who made a bit of a name for herself as Lydia Deetz in the original film, is open to revisiting the character. According to an interview she had with The Daily Beast, the sequel is purported to take place 27 years later rather than a remake. The development, Ryder says, is what’s attracting her to the project. However, she won’t return to the film unless both Burton and Beetlejuice himself Michael Keaton are involved. While Burton’s already attached to the film, it’s just a matter of contract negotiations and scheduling before the film’s cast is whole once again with Keaton and Ryder on board.

Beetlejuice was one of Burton’s finest early films. Looking at his recent output, however, has many worried that the “Burton” style has grown too stale and uninteresting, something I can’t help but agree with. As long as long-time Burton collaborators Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Depp stay far away from the project, I’ll be on board with Beetlejuice 2: Son of Beetlejuice 1. Hopefully, reuniting with Ryder and Keaton will spark the creativity Burton lost following 2003’s Big Fish.

[via IGN]