Betelgeuse

> "*I'm the ghost with the most, babe*"
> ― One of Betelgeuse's most remembered quotes
>
>

**Betelgeuse** (more commonly referred to as, "**Beetlejuice**") is a meet-and-greet character usually found in the Hollywood section of Universal Studios Florida. He is the star of the 1988 film of the same name, where he is portrayed as a ghost known for his obnoxious and wacky appearance and behavior. At Universal Orlando Resort, he is a meet-and-greet character, and formerly a character featured in the *Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue* show in the San Francisco section of Universal Studios Florida. The show was closed in 2015 to make way for *Fast and Furious: Supercharged.*

## Background

### Origins

Betelgeuse's mortal life is a mystery, though he has made claims that he lived through the Black Death (1346-1353) and to have been a graduate of the Harvard business school (though Betelgeuse himself is likely an unreliable source). Upon becoming a ghost, he worked as an assistant to the afterlife case-worker, Juno.

Betelgeuse then went on his own, becoming a, "Bio-Exorcist" who targets vulnerable recently deceased individuals to hire him for jobs such as killing mortals and removing the living from haunted locations. Betelgeuse was known to act towards these clients with hostility and perversion. While an incredibly powerful spirit, Betelgeuse could be sent away by others saying his name three times, which was also the way to summon him; however he could not directly speak his name to anyone.

### The Maitlands

Around the 1980s, Betelgeuse targeted the recently deceased Barbara and Adam Maitland in Winter River, Connecticut to be his next employers/targets. Betelgeuse used a TV commercial to persuade them into summoning him to get rid of the Deetz family who moved into and renovated their house. Betelgeuse sexually harassed Barbara, terrorized the Deetz family as a giant snake, and attempted to sexually assault the teenaged girl Lydia causing the Maitland to un-summon him and trap him within a model of the town in the attic, entertained by a brothel created by Juno to distract him.

While the Maitlands were outside the house in the Land of the Dead, Betelgeuse was found by Lydia who did not immediately recognize him as the snake. Betelgeuse began trying to convince Lydia to say his name three times as a means of letting him be free, even offering to let her become a ghost as she said she wanted to. The Maitlands managed to save Lydia from Betelgeuse and talk her out of attempting suicide.

Later, when the Maitlands were being exorcised and slowly destroyed by the Deetz parents and their friend Otho, Lydia made a bargain with Betelgeuse for him to save the Maitlands if she summoned him. Betelgeuse's condition was that Lydia would have to marry him so that he could escape being bound to the Land of the Dead for good. After violently disposing of the séance and saving the Maitlands, Betelgeuse forced Lydia into a marriage ceremony interrupted by the Maitlands trying to say his name and get rid of him to save Lydia. Before Betelgeuse could marry Lydia, Barbara managed to ride a Sandworm into him, eating Betelgeuse and saving Lydia.

After this, Betelgeuse wound up in the waiting-room of the Land of the Dead where he tried stealing a number from a witch-doctor who then shrunk his head as revenge.

## Park Appearances

Beetlejuice can be found in the Hollywood section of Universal Studios Florida, performing meet-and-greets and interacting with guests.

### Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue

Formerly, he was the star of the *Beetlejuice's Rock and Roll Graveyard Revue* show in the San Francisco area of the same park. This show was closed in 2015, along with *Disaster!* to make way for *Fast and Furious: Supercharged*.

### Fast & Furious: Supercharged

Beetlejuice is paid tribute through a figure in his likeness, and a sticker saying, "This car runs on Beetle Juice".

### Halloween Horror Nights

#### Fright Nights

Betelgeuse was the icon of Fright Nights, the first ever Halloween Horror Nights event.

## Trivia

* In the film, Beetlejuice is played by Michael Keaton. Keaton also portrayed the Vulture, a villain of Spider-Man, in *Spider-Man: Homecoming.*
* Jack the Clown has frequently mentioned not liking Betelgeuse.

## References

1. ↑ https://attractionsmagazine.com/easter-eggs-and-hidden-tributes-in-fast-furious-supercharged-at-universal-orlando/