How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film)

Last updated

How to Train Your Dragon
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Written byDean DeBlois
Based on
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Bill Pope
Music by John Powell
Production
company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • June 13, 2025 (2025-06-13)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

How to Train Your Dragon is an upcoming American action fantasy film produced by Marc Platt Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. A live-action adaptation and remake of DreamWorks Animation's 2010 animated film of the same name, which itself is loosely based on the 2003 book of the same name by Cressida Cowell, it is written, produced, and directed by Dean DeBlois, who also wrote and directed the animated film trilogy. The film stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, and Ruth Codd, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast from the animated films.

Contents

Plans for a live-action remake of 2010's How to Train Your Dragon were announced in February 2023, with DeBlois returning to write, direct, and produce, while John Powell, who worked on the original trilogy, also returned to compose the score of 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.

How to Train Your Dragon is set to be released theatrically in the United States on June 13, 2025.

Cast

Production

Development

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. [6] That same month, John Powell revealed he was set to compose the film's music, after having previously scored the original film and its sequels. [7]

Casting

In May 2023, it was announced that Mason Thames and Nico Parker had been cast to star as Hiccup and Astrid respectively. [1] In January 2024, Gerard Butler was cast to reprise his role as Stoick from the animated films, [2] 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. [3] [4] In March, Ruth Codd joined the cast of the film portraying Phlegma. [5]

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. [8] [9] After the strike concluded, screen tests were set for December 2023, with plans to begin production in mid-to-late January 2024. [9] Filming began on January 15, 2024. [10] [11] Bill Pope serves as the cinematographer. [12] Production was done with heavy use of practical sets. [13]

Visual effects

Framestore will provide the film's visual effects, with Christian Manz serving as the production VFX supervisor. [14]

Release

How to Train Your Dragon is scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2025. [15] It was previously set for release on March 14, 2025, [6] but was delayed to its current release date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [15]

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<i>How to Train Your Dragon 2</i> 2014 DreamWorks Animation film

How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a 2014 American animated fantasy film loosely based on the book series of the same name by Cressida Cowell. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox, it is the sequel to How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and the second installment in the trilogy. Written and directed by Dean DeBlois and produced by Bonnie Arnold, the film stars the returning voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig, along with Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou, and Kit Harington as new additions. Set five years after the events of the first film, the film follows twenty-year-old Hiccup and his friends as young adults as they encounter Valka, Hiccup's long-lost mother, and Drago Bludvist, a madman who wants to conquer the world.

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<i>How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World</i> 2019 DreamWorks Animation film

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a 2019 American animated fantasy film loosely based on the book series by Cressida Cowell. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, it is the sequel to How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) and the third and final installment of the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy. Written and directed by Dean DeBlois and produced by Bonnie Arnold and Brad Lewis, the film stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, and F. Murray Abraham, with Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kristen Wiig, Justin Rupple, and Kit Harington in supporting roles. The film follows 21-year old Hiccup seeking a dragon utopia known as the "Hidden World" while coming to terms with Toothless' new bond with a female Fury, as they deal with the threat of a ruthless dragon hunter named Grimmel the Grisly.

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<i>How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming</i> 2019 American animated short film

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Kit, Borys (May 30, 2023). "How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake Finds Its Hiccup and Astrid". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Kroll, Justin (January 5, 2024). "Gerard Butler Reprising His Role In Universal's Live-Action Adaptation Of How To Train Your Dragon". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Kit, Borys (January 11, 2024). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Remake Adds Nick Frost as One of the Vikings (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter .
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 24, 2024). "How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Pic Expands Cast". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Kit, Borys (March 4, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Lands 'Fall of the House of Usher' Actress Ruth Codd (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Kit, Borys (February 15, 2023). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Movie in the Works from Dean DeBlois, Universal". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ "John Powell to Score Dean DeBlois' 'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Film Adaptation | Film Music Reporter". Film Music Reporter. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ Kit, Borys (April 3, 2023). "Live-Action 'Moana' in the Works From Dwayne Johnson, Disney". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Calnan, Ellie (November 30, 2023). "How To Train Your Dragon live-action film to begin Northern Ireland shoot next year". Screen Daily . Archived from the original on December 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ Bythrow, Nick (January 15, 2024). "How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Movie Filming Announced With BTS Photo". ScreenRant.
  11. ↑ Peralta, Diego (January 15, 2024). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live Action Takes Flight as Production Begins". Collider. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Bill Pope, ASC" (PDF). Dattner Dispoto & Associates. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ McPherson, Chris (March 10, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Movie Built the Arena & Wraps Filming Soon [Exclusive]". Collider. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Nick Frost Boards 'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Feature". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  15. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 3, 2023). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Feature Pushed Due To Actors Strike". Deadline. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
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