MGM’s ‘Addams Family 2’ Shifts Release Plan, Will Debut Theatrically and for Rental on Same Day
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and BRON Creative’s “The Addams Family 2” will be made available for at-home rental in the U.S. and Canada on the same day it opens in theaters.
The animated movie, which debuts Friday, Oct. 1, is a sequel to 2019’s “The Addams Family,” which made more than $203 million at the box office.
More from Variety
Labor Union Coalition Urges FTC to Reject Amazon's $8.5 Billion MGM Deal
What's Fueling a Surge of Content M&A Talks -- and Driving Up Valuations
Amazon Wants FTC Chair Lina Khan Barred From MGM Review, Other Antitrust Probes
Oscar Isaac (who voices Gomez Addams), Charlize Theron (Morticia Addams), Chloë Grace Moretz (Wednesday Addams), Nick Kroll (Uncle Fester), Snoop Dogg (It) and Bette Midler (Grandma) reprise their roles from the original movie. Bill Hader joins the voice cast for the new installment as “Cyrus,” with Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton taking over the role of Pugsley Addams (voiced in the first movie by Finn Wolfhard).
Directed by Greg Tiernad and Conrad Vernon, and based on the beloved characters drawn by Charles Addams, the film will be released in the U.S. via MGM’s United Artists Releasing banner. The movie’s international release — which is not affected by the new day and date plan in territories other than Canada — is being handled by Universal Pictures International.
“The Addams Family 2” is the latest movie to adjust its release plan as the film industry attempts to be flexible in the pandemic era and amid growing concern about surging cases of COVID-19. The animated movie “Hotel Transylvania Transformania” is also set to be released on Oct. 1, but Variety reported Monday that Sony Pictures Animation and Amazon are nearing a $100 million deal to send the movie directly to streaming. Instead of launching in theaters, the fourth film in the highly successful “Hotel Transylvania” franchise would launch on Amazon Prime Video. “The Many Saints of Newark” is also scheduled to be released on Oct. 1, but that movie will debut simultaneously on HBO Max, as part of Warner Bros.’ previously announced plan for its entire 2021 slate.
Bloomberg was first to report details of the hybrid release plan.
Adam Vary contributed to this report.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
