Christopher Lee. Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, Jr. Gary Oldman. What links them all? They’ve played Dracula on screen. And now we can add the name Adam Sandler to that illustrious list (vocally, at least), as he’s just been announced as starring in Sony’s new 3D ‘toon Hotel Transylvania.
Yes, we’re sure horror devotees will be reaching for the sharpened stakes and holy water at the news, with Sandler playing Bram Stoker’s iconic vampire as an overprotective dad who just wants to make sure his daughter Mavis is safe. To that end, he goes a little Dogtooth on her, warning her of terrible dangers beyond his property’s borders, and creating a luxury resort where fellow monsters can have fun without worrying about humans. Until, that is, an ordinary guy checks in and – didya see it coming? – takes a fancy to Mavis.
It sounds like Sandler has also recruited a variety of friends and other folk to fill out the rest of the voice cast, with the likes of David Spade (Quasimodo), Kevin James (Frankenstein’s monster), Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon (werewolves) and Andy Samberg (as Jonathan, the human who arrives at the hotel) all aboard.
We’re going to try and hold our cynicism in check, as Sony's last effort, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, was an unexpected delight and director Genndy Tartakovsky has earned a little trust thanks to his work on Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Laboratory and the early Clone Wars ‘toons. But forgive us if this doesn’t sound like a Grown Ups-style Sandler comedy filtered through Universal horror films.
"We're thrilled to be working with Adam to create a comedic Dracula for a new generation," said Sony’s Michelle Raimo-Kouyate in commenting on the announcement. "We have a unique story about that iconic character, starring a phenomenal cast directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, that re-imagines Transylvania and its legendary monsters in the way that only animation can." We'll see...