This follow-up to Tim Burton and Michael Keaton’s 1988 “ghost with the most” film has long been a passion project for Grahame-Smith, who is writing and co-producing with Burton—with whom he worked on 2012’s Dark Shadows. “[Burton] was doing press for Big Eyes right before the holiday, and was getting the Beetlejuice question, and sort of tipped people off that Winona [Ryder] would be back. Which yes, she will be back,” Grahame-Smith says.

“I think we landed on the right idea, landed on the right approach. It’s just now making sure that—for me—I don’t want to shit my pants in front of the entire world making a sequel to one of my favorite movies.”

Status: He has completed a few drafts of the script, and received interest from all the principle players. “I’ve emailed with Michael Keaton. I know he’s excited about the idea. I know Tim is excited about the idea. Where it stands now is Tim’s got to get ready to make [Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children], and then hopefully we are set, deals are done, and we’re waiting in the wings ready to go right after Peregrine’s wraps up. The ideal timeline is we’re really getting into it toward the end of this year.”