Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton reveals why he was 'nervous' about reprising iconic role for Tim Burton's highly-anticipated sequel

Michael Keaton has admitted he felt 'nervous' returning to the iconic role of Beetlejuice for Tim Burton's highly-anticipated sequel because he didn't want to 'disappoint everyone.'

Fans got their first taste of the quirky Bio-Exorcist more than three decades ago when Keaton, now 72, portrayed the unforgettable character in the cult 1988 movie alongside the likes of Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder and Catherine O'Hara.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is set for release on September 6, and director Burton, 65, has added Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe to the cast - as well as his real-life girlfriend Monica Bellucci.

During an interview with Al Roker on Today, Keaton said of the second film: 'I was nervous going in, we all kind of were, because you don't want to mess it up. "Can I do this and not disappoint everyone?" frankly.'

Referring to the first time he saw himself made up as Beetlejuice again, he said: 'When I saw that I thought, "yeah, there we are", and the story is actually a really, really solid story and everybody's so good in it, that the pressure was kind of off me a little bit.'

Michael Keaton has admitted he felt 'nervous' returning to the iconic role of Beetlejuice for Tim Burton 's highly-anticipated sequel

The 72-year-old actor said he didn't want to 'disappoint everyone' by playing the Bio-Exorcist again

When asked if it felt like it had been 36 years, Keaton joked: 'It feels like 136 years,' as his costars O'Hara, 70, and Ryder, 52, laughed and agreed.

When Roker, 70, commented that O'Hara's character Delia Deetz has 'mellowed' and is 'nicer', the Home Alone star replied: 'You got to be. Come on, how long can you spend the energy arguing with somebody?' as Keaton added: 'It just gets tiring.'

Speaking about Ryder's character Lydia Deetz, who is her onscreen stepdaughter, O'Hara added: 'I've grown to love and respect this little smartass girl that wouldn't give me an inch years ago, because she's matured too.'

Ryder responded: 'But there's like a tremendous empathy now that I know what it's like to have a daughter,' referring to her daughter in the sequel, Astrid, who is played by Ortega.

The Stranger Things actress then admitted: 'I felt pretty emotional, like on the set. I just remember being... every moment I was like, I'm very present. It was really one of the most special experiences I've had.'

Talking about Burton, who has also directed films such as Edward Scissorhands and Planet of the Apes, O'Hara said: 'I think great directors, and Tim is, are great manipulators, in the way a great parent is.

'He makes you feel like you came up with the idea, even though he got you to do exactly what he wanted you to do and you feel... it's so collaborative and it's so alive and just happening in the moment.'

Ryder added: 'On the first one, it was the first time I felt like I was part of a collaboration, even though I was 15. I had usually just been told where to sort of stand, it meant so much to me.'

Keaton sat down with his costars Catherine O'Hara (left) and Winona Ryder for an interview on NBC's Today

The original Beetlejuice was released in March 1988 and has since become a cult classic

Jenna Ortega, O'Hara, Keaton, Ryder, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Tim Burton at a photo call in NYC on August 17

The official trailer for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was released in May and gave excited fans a taste of what's to come in the long-awaited follow up film. 

Years have passed since the events of the original film, and now Ryder's Lydia is a mother to a teenage daughter Astrid - and she assumed she would never hear from the mischievous Beetlejuice ever again - until her daughter comes across an advertisement for a 'Bio Exorcist' in their attack.

It is Astrid who ends up bringing Beetlejuice back by saying his name three times despite the stern warnings of her mother, and of course, mayhem ensues.

A synopsis for the sequel reads: 'After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River.

'Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.'