Hotel Transylvania: Transformania has arrived on Prime Video, but it has done so without the voice talents of Adam Sandler and Kevin James, the two comedic actors who played Dracula and Frankenstein, respectively, since the original film. Why is that? Let's take a look.
As reported by Decider, Sandler was replaced in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania by Brian Hull and James was replaced by Brad Abrell. The pair had starred in all three previous Hotel Transylvania films and there has been no official word as to why they weren't part of this final installment.
While Sony, Sandler, or James have yet to give any statement on the matter, Transformania's directors Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska shared a bit as to why the change in voice actors actually fit the story they were trying to tell. It's also important to note that Drymon and Kluska have taken over for Genndy Tartakovsky, the director who lead the first three films.
"The fact that he turns into a human was a good opportunity to do things a little differently," Drymon told ScreenRant. "He could be a little different than he was in the movies, and it would be natural. So, it kind of was the perfect movie to have a person come in and fill those shoes."
"We started with the design, and how do we make that character feel as different as possible," Kluska added. "He's not going to animate the same; he's not going to look the same. And it felt like embracing Brian and, more specifically, embracing what the difference in that would be as a human. It felt like it was a great opportunity."
While this may answer why Sandler and James aren't in Transformania, it doesn't necessarily account for why those like Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez returned to their characters of Jonathan and Mavis, respectively, who also turn into their opposites - Jonathan turns into a monster while Mavis turns human.
There are those who also believe Sandler and James did not return because of their ongoing deals with Netflix. In 2020, Sandler signed on to make four more movies for Netflix, while James also recently signed on to a development deal with the company.
Sandler signed his original deal with Netflix in 2014 and was no longer an executive producer on the Hotel Transylvania films after the second one.
While we may never know the truth as to why these two did not return for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, the mainline films are officially over - for now - and it looks like everyone will be going their separate ways regardless.
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
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As reported by Decider, Sandler was replaced in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania by Brian Hull and James was replaced by Brad Abrell. The pair had starred in all three previous Hotel Transylvania films and there has been no official word as to why they weren't part of this final installment.
While Sony, Sandler, or James have yet to give any statement on the matter, Transformania's directors Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska shared a bit as to why the change in voice actors actually fit the story they were trying to tell. It's also important to note that Drymon and Kluska have taken over for Genndy Tartakovsky, the director who lead the first three films.
"The fact that he turns into a human was a good opportunity to do things a little differently," Drymon told ScreenRant. "He could be a little different than he was in the movies, and it would be natural. So, it kind of was the perfect movie to have a person come in and fill those shoes."
"We started with the design, and how do we make that character feel as different as possible," Kluska added. "He's not going to animate the same; he's not going to look the same. And it felt like embracing Brian and, more specifically, embracing what the difference in that would be as a human. It felt like it was a great opportunity."
While this may answer why Sandler and James aren't in Transformania, it doesn't necessarily account for why those like Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez returned to their characters of Jonathan and Mavis, respectively, who also turn into their opposites - Jonathan turns into a monster while Mavis turns human.
There are those who also believe Sandler and James did not return because of their ongoing deals with Netflix. In 2020, Sandler signed on to make four more movies for Netflix, while James also recently signed on to a development deal with the company.
Sandler signed his original deal with Netflix in 2014 and was no longer an executive producer on the Hotel Transylvania films after the second one.
While we may never know the truth as to why these two did not return for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, the mainline films are officially over - for now - and it looks like everyone will be going their separate ways regardless.
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Continue reading...