Plans for a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon were announced in February 2023, with DeBlois returning to write, direct, and produce after previously spearheading the animated film trilogy. John Powell, who also worked on the trilogy, additionally returned to compose the score for the film. Thames and Parker joined the cast by May 2023, with additional casting revealed in January 2024. Filming began later that month in Belfast, Northern Ireland and wrapped in May.
Produced by DreamWorks Animation and Marc Platt Productions, How to Train Your Dragon will have its world premiere at CinemaCon on April 2, 2025, and is set to be released theatrically by Universal Pictures in the United States on June 13, 2025.
Premise
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast, defies centuries of traditional dragon-fighting practice when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
In February 2023, it was reported that a live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation's 2010 How to Train Your Dragon film, which was loosely based on Cressida Cowell's eponymous book series, was in development at Universal Pictures, with Dean DeBlois directing, writing, and producing the film after previously writing and directing the animated entries, and Marc Platt and Adam Siegel joining as co-producers.[8] That same month, John Powell revealed he was set to compose the film's music, after he previously scored the original film and its sequels.[9] In November 2024, Forbes reported that Universal Pictures had spent over $50 million on pre-production for the film.[10]
Casting
In May 2023, it was announced that Mason Thames and Nico Parker had been cast to star as Hiccup and Astrid respectively.[2] In January 2024, Gerard Butler was cast to reprise his role as Stoick from the animated films,[3] with Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn joining the cast later that same month, who were cast to play Gobber, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, respectively.[4][5] In March, Ruth Codd joined the cast of the film, portraying Phlegma.[6]
Filming
Principal photography was originally scheduled to begin in July 2023 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before it was postponed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[11][12] After the strike concluded, screen tests were set for December 2023, with plans to begin production in mid-to-late January 2024.[12] Filming began on January 15, 2024, and wrapped on May 16.[13][14][15]Bill Pope served as the cinematographer.[16] Production was done with heavy use of practical sets and was filmed with the IMAX format in mind. Many scenes from the original film were re-created shot-for-shot in live-action form, notably Hiccup's first encounter with Toothless.[17]
How to Train Your Dragon is scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2025, including engagements in RealD 3D, IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX.[20] It was previously set for release on March 14, 2025,[8] but due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, it was delayed to its current release date.[20]
Marketing
The first look at the film was revealed in Empire's 2025 Preview on November 15, 2024, ahead of the release of the first teaser trailer in front of theatrical screenings of Wicked.[21] The trailer was later released online on November 19, followed by a featurette introducing Dean DeBlois' vision in translating the story to the live-action medium.[22] A new look at the film aired during Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025, ahead of the release of the official trailer on February 12, 2025 before being attached to showings of Captain America: Brave New World.[23][24]
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