The Joker’s Planned Victim and a Lost Beetlejuice Connection

In the late 1980s, director Tim Burton and actor Michael Keaton had already teamed up on a wildly imaginative film about mischievous ghosts. When Burton later chose Keaton to portray the brooding hero, some fans were uneasy about the switch, but history showed Burton’s confidence was justified.

During that time, a second actor from the ghostly movie—Catherine O’Hara—was slated for a small but crucial role in Burton’s superhero film. She was brought on board just before shooting began at Pinewood Studios, and promotional comics even listed her as a “victim of the Joker.” In an interview with the Toronto Star, O’Hara recalled that Burton pitched the part to her as a brief but meaningful death scene meant to reveal how the villain would wreak havoc.

Which character was O’Hara supposed to play?
The script had many changes, but by October the outline of a key scene was solidified. In that moment, the villain hijacks a live news broadcast and advertises a deadly laughing gas called Smylex. A newscaster, later named Becky Narita and played by Kit Hollerbach, is exposed to the toxin via a shampoo product. She laughs uncontrollably until she dies—a chilling image that still lingers in viewers’ minds.

Some theories suggest O’Hara might have been the original choice for this on‑screen death, especially given her distinctive laugh and the need to portray a dramatic, comic‑style demise. The role was meant to show how the Joker’s plans would endanger ordinary people, fitting Burton’s description of a “small but important” moment.

Unfortunately, the specifics behind why O’Hara did not ultimately appear remain murky. She was enthusiastic about the project when interviewed, yet her cameo never materialized. Despite this brief setback, she attended the film’s premiere and continued working with Burton on future projects, indicating there were no lasting rifts.

The scene with the newscaster remains one of the most memorable in the film, blending humor and horror. Had O’Hara taken that role, it might have added an extra layer of recognition for fans familiar with her earlier work.