The 'Drac Pack' is Back: Keegan-Michael Key Confirms 'Hotel Transylvania 5' is in the Works
The 'Drac Pack' is Back: Keegan-Michael Key Confirms 'Hotel Transylvania 5' is in the Works
The monsters aren’t checking out just yet. In a surprising red-carpet revelation that has delighted families and animation fans alike, Keegan-Michael Key has officially confirmed that "Hotel Transylvania 5" is currently in active development at Sony Pictures Animation.
Speaking with Variety on the red carpet of the 83rd Golden Globe Awards this past Sunday, Key who has voiced Murray the Mummy since the second installment—casually let slip that he is preparing to return to the recording booth.
"A Sacred Connection"
When asked about his upcoming projects, Key didn't hesitate to include the beloved monster franchise in his lineup. “My latest one I’m about to start work on is Hotel Transylvania 5,” Key told reporters.
The actor, known for his deep commitment to voice acting in hits like The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Transformers One, spoke warmly about his return as Murray. He described his process of finding the character's voice as a "sacred connection between me and the drawings," noting that the intuitive nature of the franchise's animation style is what keeps him coming back.
The Franchise That Refused to Die
The news comes as a surprise to many industry insiders who believed 2022’s Hotel Transylvania: Transformania was intended to be the series' "final chapter." Despite skipping a domestic theatrical release due to the pandemic, the fourth film was a massive hit for Amazon Prime Video, proving that global demand for Drac’s "Drac Pack" remains at an all-time high.
The Hotel Transylvania franchise is a certified juggernaut, having grossed over $1.38 billion (just over £1 billion English pounds) worldwide across its first three theatrical releases.
What We Know (And What We Don’t)
While Key’s confirmation is the first official word on the sequel, several questions remain regarding the "monster-sized" production:
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The Cast: It is currently unconfirmed if Adam Sandler will return as Dracula after being replaced by Brian Hull in the fourth film. However, Selena Gomez (Mavis) and Andy Samberg (Johnny) are widely expected to reprise their roles alongside Key.
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The Creative Team: It is unclear if franchise creator Genndy Tartakovsky will return to the director’s chair or serve in a writing/producing capacity.
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Release Window: While Sony has not set an official date, industry analysts suggest a 2027 release is the most likely target, coinciding with the debut of the Netflix spin-off series, Motel Transylvania.
A Multi-Platform Monster Year
Fans of the spooky hotel have a lot to look forward to in 2027. In addition to the newly confirmed fifth film, the "Motel Transylvania" series on Netflix will follow Mavis and Dracula as they open a new resort for humans and monsters in the California desert.
With production set to begin in the coming months, it seems the "Hotel" is undergoing its biggest expansion yet. As Keegan-Michael Key put it on the red carpet: "The fans want more, and we're ready to give it to them."
