Sony Pictures Animation and Amazon are nearing a deal for over $100 million for the animated feature Hotel Transylvania: Transformania to stream globally on Amazon Prime Video, as reported by Variety.
The surge in COVID cases, driven by the highly contagious delta variant predominantly infecting unvaccinated people has made theatrical exhibition of family films insupportable since there is no vaccine yet for children under 12. Therefore, Sony began exploring an alternative release for the fourth Hotel Transylvania movie, which had been slated to open in theaters on 1 October. We may see more of these kinds of streaming deals for animated movies, since the little ones are yet to be vaccinated, and are, of course, the target audience for such titles.
Many studios that don’t have their own streaming service have decided to sell their films during the pandemic. Sony sold Greyhound to Apple and Happiest Season to Hulu. Additionally, the studio partnered with Netflix on The Mitchells vs. the Machines, Fatherhood and Vivo, and with Amazon on Cinderella starring Camila Cabello. Paramount Pictures, for instance, sold Coming 2 America to Amazon as well.
Transformania is the last in the film series and will be directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska. The film will star Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade and Keegan-Michael Key. Amos Vernon and Nunzio Randazzo wrote the script. Gomez is also executive producing, along with Michelle Murdocca. However, Adam Sandler and Kevin James won’t be reprising their voice roles, as Brian Hull will now provide the voice of Dracula, while Brad Abrell will voice Frankenstein.
Sony will retain rights to home entertainment, linear TV and Chinese exhibition, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.
The previous three Hotel Transylvania movies grossed $1.3 billion at the global box office.
