Beetlejuice is getting a sequel more than 25 years after being released – and it looks like Winona Ryder is on board.

A follow-up to the 1988 movie about a dead couple trying to rid their house of its new owners has been in the pipeline for some time, and director Tim Burton has now revealed to MTV that plans are gathering force.

Asked if he would be directing the long-awaited sequel, he replied: “Oh yeah.”

A picture of Winona Ryder at a screening
Winona Ryder will be in Beetlejuice 2 (Evan Agostini/Invision/Press Association Images)

And quizzed about whether Winona – who played teen Lydia Deetz – would be back, he said: “Oh yeah, yeah yeah yeah. Oh yeah, oh yeah. Yeah yeah, oh yeah.”

Tim hinted that the plans started heating up when he worked with the actress on a music video – and he implied that Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton would also be back.

“I hadn’t seen her in awhile… and she was so great,” he said. “I was so happy to see her. So those kinds of elements mean something to me. Michael, and her (Winona)… and that character, I just miss it, there’s some freedom about that character that I love.”

Michael has previously indicated that he would be keen to reprise his role in a follow-up to the supernatural comedy.

A picture of Michael Keaton filming Graham Norton's show
Michael Keaton has said he would like to return for Beetlejuice 2 (Ian West/PA Wire)

And earlier this month, Tim revealed in another interview, this time with Coming Soon: “It’s a character that I love and I miss and I miss actually working with Michael. There’s only one Betelgeuse.

“We’re working on a script and I think it’s probably closer than ever and I’d love to work with him again.”