LAS VEGAS – When you're directing a cinematic legend like Mel Brooks, nerves are going to happen.
At least they did with “Hotel Transylvania 2” director Genndy Tartakovsky, who relates that giving notes to his “comedy hero and inspiration” (who voices the role of Dracula's father Vlad in the animated sequel) was more than a little intimidating.
“Once he goes, 'how would you read that line?' And I got flop sweat right away, cause I don't know, why are you asking me, you know? You're Mel Brooks!” laughed Tartakovsky while promoting the film at CinemaCon. “But I had to do it, so I just kinda gave him a line reading, and he goes, 'Okay, I'll try it that way — once!' So it was very funny, but he was super nice, and at I think 88 years old, he's quick, so quick, and so smart.”
Along with Brooks, “Hotel Transylvania 2” will see Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi and Kevin James reprising their voice roles from the first film, along with Keegan-Michael Key (“Key & Peele”), who replaced CeeLo Green as Murray the mummy.
Speaking of Key: it sounds like he may have stolen the show from his co-stars. For more on that, watch the full interview above.
“Hotel Transylvania 2” hits theaters on September 25.