Comedy legend Mel Brooks is getting back into the bloodsucking business, with news that Sony Pictures Animation has recruited him for a supporting role in its upcoming animated sequel, Hotel Transylvania 2.
Brooks, who previously flirted with vampirism in the underrated 1995 comedy Dracula: Dead and Loving It, will be portraying Vlad, the very old and grumpy father of protagonist Dracula (Adam Sandler). The sequel finds the titular hotel, a classy getaway for monsters of all varieties, experiencing an unexpected collision of supernatural old-school and modern-day cool when Vlad decides to pay an unexpected visit.
Said the acclaimed comedian:
“He’s been around for eons, and he’s a pretty crabby guy. Basically, he reminds me of me.”
In addition to Brooks and Sandler, the sequel will feature the voice talents of Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi and Fran Drescher, most of whom are reprising their roles from the initial pic.
When the first Hotel Transylvania grossed $358 million on a budget of $85 million way back in 2012, picking up a Golden Globe nomination along the way, Sony Pictures Animation quickly realized the potential for that rarest of beasts – a lucrative fall franchise. Now that the project has added an actor of Brooks’ caliber, this sequel certainly shows a lot more promise than it did a few days ago, but “family reunion” isn’t a topic that exactly inspires confidence.
We’ll find out whether it’s worth checking back for Hotel Transylvania 2 when the pic opens in theaters September 25th.
