Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Count Dracula, usually called Drac, has had two main English-language voice actors in the Hotel Transylvania feature films. Adam Sandler created the movie version of the character and voiced him in the first three films. Brian Hull took over as Dracula in the fourth movie, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Quick Answer
Adam Sandler voices Count Dracula in the first three Hotel Transylvania movies: the 2012 original, Hotel Transylvania 2, and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. Brian Hull replaced Sandler as Drac in the fourth feature, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. The Dracula voice actor for the upcoming fifth film has not yet been announced.
Key Takeaways
- Adam Sandler originated the voice of Dracula in the Hotel Transylvania feature-film series.
- Sandler voiced Drac in the first three movies released in 2012, 2015, and 2018.
- Brian Hull voices Dracula in 2022’s Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
- Genndy Tartakovsky directed the first three films but not Transformania.
- The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania, the fifth feature film, is scheduled for October 8, 2027, but its Dracula voice actor has not yet been identified in the announced cast information.
Who Voices Count Dracula in Hotel Transylvania?
Adam Sandler is the voice most closely associated with Dracula in Hotel Transylvania. Sony Pictures announced in 2011 that Sandler would play the lead role of Dracula in the first movie, describing the character as both the famous Prince of Darkness and an overprotective father to Mavis. Sony’s original casting announcement confirms the role.
Sandler continued as Drac in the next two movies. Sony later confirmed that he would return as Dracula for the third installment alongside Selena Gomez as Mavis and Andy Samberg as Johnny.
The change came with the fourth feature, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Brian Hull took over the role of Dracula while Brad Abrell replaced Kevin James as Frankenstein.
| Film | Dracula Voice Actor |
| Hotel Transylvania (2012) | Adam Sandler |
| Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) | Adam Sandler |
| Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) | Adam Sandler |
| Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022) | Brian Hull |
| The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania (scheduled for 2027) | Not announced in the July 2026 release announcement |
Note: Saying that Adam Sandler is “the voice of Dracula” is correct when discussing the first three movies, but it is no longer correct for the entire feature-film franchise because Brian Hull plays Drac in Transformania.
Meet Adam Sandler, the Original Voice of Dracula
Adam Sandler built his career through stand-up comedy, television, movies, writing, and producing. His years on Saturday Night Live helped establish the exaggerated voices, comic timing, songs, and character work that later became familiar parts of his screen persona.
His movie career includes comedies such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, and Big Daddy, along with dramatic performances in films such as Punch-Drunk Love and Uncut Gems.
Those comedy instincts fit Sony’s approach to Dracula. Rather than treating Drac only as a threatening vampire, Hotel Transylvania turns him into an anxious father, hotel owner, friend, and eventually grandfather. Sandler’s performance moves between exaggerated monster behavior and the frustration of a protective parent.
From Stand-Up and Saturday Night Live to Hotel Transylvania
Sandler’s experience with stand-up and sketch comedy gave him a strong foundation for a highly expressive animated character. By the time Sony cast him as Dracula, he was already an established comedy star with decades of experience delivering jokes through changes in pitch, timing, rhythm, and character voices.
He also had a creative role beyond simply recording dialogue. Sandler served as an executive producer on the original film and later co-wrote Hotel Transylvania 2 with Robert Smigel. Sony’s production information for the sequel identifies Sandler as both a writer and executive producer.
The first image above is atmospheric rather than a photograph of Sandler or another Hotel Transylvania performer, so its alt text describes what is actually shown instead of incorrectly identifying it as the voice actor.
Bringing Count Dracula to Life Through Voice Acting
An animated performance depends heavily on the actor’s delivery because facial expressions and physical movement are created by the animation team rather than captured directly from a conventional live-action performance. The voice has to communicate mood, pacing, personality, and relationships clearly enough to work alongside the finished animation.
For Drac, that means shifting quickly between authority, panic, affection, anger, embarrassment, and slapstick comedy. The character can sound like an intimidating vampire in one scene and an exasperated father in the next.
Public production sources do not document Sandler following one exact six-step recording formula, so the following should be understood as a simplified overview of common voice-performance preparation rather than a record of his personal sessions:
| Stage | Typical Purpose |
| 1. Script analysis | Understand the scene, relationships, jokes, and emotional beats. |
| 2. Character preparation | Set the character’s vocal personality and emotional point of view. |
| 3. Vocal preparation | Prepare for repeated takes, shouting, unusual voices, or long sessions. |
| 4. Performance choices | Try different pacing, emphasis, tone, and emotional intensity. |
| 5. Recording | Record usable takes of the scripted dialogue. |
| 6. Direction and adjustments | Modify the performance to match the director’s interpretation and the needs of the scene. |
Why Did Brian Hull Replace Adam Sandler as Dracula?
Brian Hull replaced Adam Sandler for the fourth feature film, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania. Hull had already become known online for character impressions and voice work, and he publicly announced that he had been cast as Dracula in the new movie.
The filmmakers discussed how the fourth movie’s story made a different interpretation of Drac workable. In Transformania, Van Helsing’s invention turns Dracula from a vampire into a human, changing both his appearance and many of his abilities. Co-directors Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska explained in interviews that this transformation gave the production room to make the character feel different.
That should not be confused with an official explanation for Sandler’s departure, however. The publicly available comments from the filmmakers describe why a new performance could work within the story; they do not establish a definitive reason Sandler did not return.
Pro Tip: When comparing the voices, use a scene from one of Sandler’s first three movies and a scene from Transformania. Hull keeps many familiar Drac vocal traits, but he is a different performer rather than an uncredited Sandler performance.
The Legacy of Count Dracula in Hotel Transylvania
Count Dracula predates the animated franchise by more than a century. Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula was published in 1897 and introduced the Count Dracula character who became one of the most influential figures in vampire fiction.
Hotel Transylvania deliberately takes that frightening literary image in a different direction. Its Dracula still has supernatural powers, fangs, a cape, and the visual language associated with classic vampires, but his biggest problems often involve parenting, relationships, running a hotel, and dealing with humans.
That contrast is central to the comedy. Drac can be an ancient supernatural being while also behaving like a worried father who has difficulty accepting that his daughter is growing up. The films use familiar monster imagery while telling stories about family, prejudice, change, friendship, and acceptance.
The movie version of Dracula works because the franchise turns the legendary vampire into something much more ordinary: an overprotective parent trying to keep his family together.
Behind the Scenes of Hotel Transylvania
The original Hotel Transylvania was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, whose television work includes Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack. He returned to direct Hotel Transylvania 2 and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.
Sandler was part of an ensemble that also included Selena Gomez as Mavis, Andy Samberg as Johnny, Kevin James as Frankenstein in the first three films, Steve Buscemi as Wayne, David Spade as Griffin, Fran Drescher as Eunice, and other well-known performers.
The creative lineup changed for Transformania. Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon directed the fourth movie, while Tartakovsky remained involved as a writer and executive producer. Brian Hull took over as Drac, and Brad Abrell became the voice of Frankenstein.
Hull has also discussed the significance of taking over Dracula publicly through his verified online channel, making his involvement much easier to verify than the unsupported “recent interview” claim in the earlier version of this article.
How the Dracula Voice Became Part of the Character
Sandler’s performance defined the feature-film version of Drac for three consecutive movies, so a casting change was naturally noticeable to viewers familiar with the originals. His Dracula mixes a vaguely Eastern European-inspired monster accent with Sandler’s own comic delivery, especially when Drac becomes anxious or angry.
Hull inherited an unusual challenge: the character needed to remain recognizable even though the actor had changed. Rather than creating a completely unrelated interpretation, his performance maintains many of the vocal qualities audiences associate with the animated Drac while still being his own performance.
Because audience reactions are subjective, it is misleading to claim that “fans” as a whole reacted in one particular way. Some viewers immediately noticed the change, while others focused more on the character and story. The objective point is simpler: Sandler established the voice across three movies, and Hull became the first different performer to voice Drac in a main Hotel Transylvania feature.
What’s Next for Count Dracula and Hotel Transylvania?
The franchise is no longer finished with Transformania. In July 2026, Sony Pictures Animation and Amazon MGM Studios announced a fifth feature film titled The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania.
The movie is scheduled to open in theaters on October 8, 2027. Jennifer Kluska and Alan Hawkins are directing, Lawrence Jonas is producing, and Genndy Tartakovsky and Michelle Murdocca are serving as executive producers.
The announced story places Drac in retirement while Mavis runs the hotel. Strange and unexplained events at the resort then send the group on a new investigation.
One important question remains unanswered: who will voice Dracula? The July 2026 announcement detailed the movie’s title, release date, premise, directors, and producers, but it did not identify the main voice cast. That means neither Adam Sandler nor Brian Hull should be described as confirmed for the fifth film until Sony or the production announces the role.
Note: The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania is currently scheduled for October 8, 2027. Casting can change during production, so claims about Sandler or Hull returning as Drac should be treated as speculation unless confirmed by the studio.
Conclusion
Adam Sandler is the original and longest-running voice of Count Dracula in the Hotel Transylvania movies, playing Drac in the first three features. Brian Hull took over the character in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, making him the second actor to voice Dracula in the main film series.
The distinction matters because older descriptions of the franchise often state that Sandler voices Dracula in every movie. That is no longer accurate. With The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania now scheduled for 2027 and its Dracula casting still unannounced, the safest current answer is simple: Sandler voices Drac in movies 1–3, Hull voices him in movie 4, and movie 5 remains to be confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the voice of Count Dracula in Hotel Transylvania?
Adam Sandler voices Count Dracula in the first three Hotel Transylvania feature films. Brian Hull voices Dracula in the fourth movie, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Did Adam Sandler voice Dracula in every Hotel Transylvania movie?
No. Sandler voiced Dracula in Hotel Transylvania, Hotel Transylvania 2, and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. He did not voice Drac in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Who replaced Adam Sandler as Dracula?
Voice actor Brian Hull replaced Adam Sandler as Dracula for Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.
Why didn’t Adam Sandler voice Dracula in Hotel Transylvania 4?
The casting change is confirmed, but the publicly available production information reviewed here does not provide a definitive official reason for Sandler’s departure. The directors did explain that turning Dracula human in Transformania created an opportunity for the character to sound and behave somewhat differently.
Is Brian Hull the voice of Dracula in Hotel Transylvania 4?
Yes. Brian Hull is credited as Dracula in Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, the fourth feature film in the series.
Will Adam Sandler voice Dracula in Hotel Transylvania 5?
It has not been confirmed in the July 2026 announcement for The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania. The fifth film is scheduled for October 8, 2027, but its Dracula voice actor has not yet been identified in the cited announcement.
Sources
- Sony Pictures Entertainment — Adam Sandler Checks In to Hotel Transylvania — confirms Sandler’s original casting as Dracula.
- Sony Pictures Animation — 2017 & 2018 Slate — confirms Sandler’s return as Dracula for the third film.
- Sony Pictures — Hotel Transylvania: Transformania — official information for the fourth feature film.
- Brian Hull — Dracula Casting Announcement — Hull publicly confirms that he voices Dracula in Transformania.
- Variety — Hotel Transylvania 5 Sets October 2027 Release Date — confirms The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania, its October 8, 2027 release, and key filmmakers.