The long-awaited sequel for director Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" is closer than ever.

Burton revealed the possibility of "Beetlejuice 2" to IGN while promoting his latest film "Big Eyes." According to the director, the sequel of the comedy/horror movie would only be possible if Michael Keaton, who played the bio-exorcist Beetlejuice back in 1988, will return to reprise his role.

"There's only one Beetlejuice, and that's Michael. There is a script, and I would love to work with him again. I think there is now a better chance than ever... I miss that character. There's something that's cathartic and amazing about it. I think it's closer than ever," Burton told IGN.

The director also revealed in a recent interview with Yahoo! Movies that the follow-up for "Beetlejuice" isn't a direct sequel to its predecessor.

"There's a script now, that I think is closer to what it could be and I'm excited about it. I wouldn't call it so much a sequel, but it'll have some characters [from the original 'Beetlejuice']," Burton said, as reported by Yahoo! Movies.

Back in February, Keaton discussed the possibility of making a sequel to the movie. The actor said that he will probably get involved with "Beetlejuice 2" once Burton goes on board to direct the movie. Seth Grahame-Smith, on the other hand, has been working on the film's script since 2012.

"I've emailed Tim a couple of times, talked to the writer a couple of times, but all really, really preliminary stuff," the actor said, as quoted by Variety. "I always said that's the one thing I'd like to do again, if I ever did anything again. But it kind of required Tim to be involved some way or another."

"Now it looks like he is involved," the actor added, according to the news outlet. "And without giving too much away, we've talked to each other, and emailed each other, and if he's in, it's going to be hard not to be in."

"Beetlejuice 2" is set to take place 27 years after the events of the first film. Winona Ryder, who portrayed the teenager Lydia Deetz, also hinted about her involvement in the movie follow-up.

"I'm kind of sworn to secrecy," Ryder said to The Daily Beast. "But it sounds like it might be happening."

In another report from IGN, Ryder said that she was originally wary about returning for a sequel, but considered the possibility when she knew that Grahame-Smith was penning the script.

"It's not a remake," the actress remarked, as quoted by The Daily Beast. "It's 27 years later. And I have to say, I love Lydia [Ryder's teenage character] so much. She was such a huge part of me. I would be really interested in what she is doing 27 years later."