Michael Keaton is ready to change his name

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is expected to be his last film credited under that name.

Michael Keaton is in full promotion of Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceby Tim Burton. A film that is clearly close to his heart: the 73-year-old actor has rarely been so involved in a tour, presenting this sequel to the cult film of 1988 with joy to journalists, at the Venice Film Festival for example, and also accompanying the filmmaker during the inauguration of his star on Hollywood Boulevard.

Reuniting with Burton for their fifth film together in thirty years of friendship probably represents something very special in Keaton's career, who recalled how much he loved being regularly invited into the universe of the gothic filmmaker, and that he will never forget his unwavering support when he chose him to play Bruce Wayne/Batman, at the very end of the 1980s.

Tim Burton finally has his star in Hollywood: “Thanks buddy, you're the best!”

On the cover of the new issue of PeopleMichael Keaton also reveals that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice could contain a very symbolic element: it will certainly be the last film of his career for which he will be credited under this name.

Because in reality, Michael Keaton's name is Michael Douglas. The problem is that when he wanted to join the actors' union, in the 1970s, there was already an actor with the same name, and a famous one at that: Kirk Douglas' son was already known for his series The Streets of San Francisco or its production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

In 1977, when he began his career on stage and in sitcoms All's Fairthe future hero of Beetlejuice so wanted to get his official Screen Actors Guild card. Faced with “the other” Michael Douglas, but also a certain Mike Douglas, a TV show host, was advised to change his surname.

“So I looked for another name, I don't remember if it was in a directory? In any case, I certainly told them something like: 'Wait, I'll find something else.' And (once I came across Keaton) I thought: 'Oh, this one seems reasonable to me.'“

Truly breaking through in 1988 thanks to Beetlejuice In the eyes of the general public, Michael Keaton has since kept this name, whether as an actor or director. It is at the time of finalizing Knox Goes Awayhis thriller which has just arrived on Prime Video and in which he films himself as a hitman, that he wanted to mix his real name and his stage name to become Michael Keaton Douglas.

“I told the team: 'Just to let you know that from now on my name will be credited as Michael Keaton Douglas.' Except I didn't give them enough time to do it. But it's going to happen!”

Here is the trailer for Beetlejuice 2which will be released on September 11 in France:

Michael Keaton Didn't Want CGI in Beetlejuice 2 for More Fun