With worldwide box office earnings of over 1.6 billion dollars, DreamWorks' "How to Train Your Dragon" trilogy was a huge success. Now the first part is returning to cinemas - but in a very special way: This time, the former animated film is being made into a live-action one! In our new Original, we provide you with all the latest information on the next release of the Viking adventure!

What is "How to Train Your Dragon" About?

Of course, the story is once again based on the children's book of the same name by Cressida Cowell. It can therefore be assumed that the story of the live-action film adaptation will only differ slightly from the first installment of the animated series.

The 2010 adventure film took us into the world of the Vikings. It told the story of Hiccup, the cunning but frail son of the chieftain who lives in the Viking village of Berk. This village is regularly under attack by dragons, which are regarded as dangerous beasts in the Viking world.

One day, Hiccup wants to prove that he, too, has what it takes to be a real Viking and shoots down a Nightshade - a particularly feared type of dragon - during another attack. But when he goes to inspect the slain dragon, he discovers that Toothless, as he calls the dragon, is by no means a ferocious monster, but a friendly creature. An unusual friendship develops between the two, which Hiccup has to keep secret from his family.

The Cast

The role of Hiccup will be played by the young actor Mason Thames, who made his Hollywood breakthrough with the Apple TV+ series "For All Mankind". He was most recently featured in the Scott Derrickson-directed horror film "The Black Phone" alongside Ethan Hawke.

At Thames' side, Nico Parker will play the Viking girl Astrid. The daughter of the well-known actress Thandiwe Newton was already involved in the live-action adaptation of "Dumbo" and played the daughter of Pedro Pascal's character Joel in the acclaimed HBO series "The Last of Us". Her casting led to some discussion online, as critics claimed that the young actress wasn't "white" enough for the Viking role.

Also part of the cast: Nick Frost as the Viking Gobber, "Deadpool 2" actor Julian Dennison as Fishlegs and Gabriel Howell in the role of Snotlout. Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn will play the siblings Ruffnut and Tuffnut. Hollywood star Gerard Butler, who already provided the voice of Hiccup's father Stoick in the animated films, will also play him in the live-action adaptation.

Production

The directing duties and the script will once again be the responsibility of Dean DeBlois, who was also behind the animated movies. The camera is being operated by none other than Hollywood legend Roger Deakins. He is considered one of the best-known cinematographers and was awarded an Oscar for his work on Denis Villeneuve's science fiction sequel "Blade Runner 2049" as well as the war film "1917".

On May 16, 2024, director Dean DeBlois posted a first image on his Instagram account and announced that filming had come to an end after 85 days in Northern Ireland. The director went on to praise the stunning scenery and the fun energy on set. If the new movie proves to be a success, we can most likely expect live-action adaptations of the other parts of the series as well.

When Will the Movie be Released?

The live-action film adaptation of "How to Train Your Dragon" will hit theaters on June 13, 2025. There's still some time left until then, but we'll keep you up to date on all further developments!