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How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film)

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How to Train Your Dragon
Teaser poster
Directed byDean DeBlois
Written byDean DeBlois
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyBill Pope
Music byJohn Powell
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • June 13, 2025 (2025-06-13)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

How to Train Your Dragon is an upcoming American fantasy film written, co-produced, and directed by Dean DeBlois. It is a live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation's 2010 animated film of the same name, which itself was loosely based on the 2003 novel of the same name by Cressida Cowell. The film stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Murray McArthur, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast from the animated films. This will be the first live-action/animated film from DreamWorks Animation and their first live-action remake.

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 having previously worked on the animated film trilogy, while John Powell, who also worked on the original 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 Marc Platt Productions and DreamWorks Animation, the film is set to be released theatrically by Universal Pictures in the United States on June 13, 2025.

Premise

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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.

— Universal Pictures[1]

Cast

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  • Mason Thames as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the awkward son of Stoick the Vast.[2]
  • Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast, the chieftain of Berk and Hiccup's father; Butler reprises his role from the animated films.[3]
  • Nico Parker as Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup's fellow student in dragon-fighting training.[2]
  • Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch, Berk's blacksmith, a close friend of Stoick's and teacher of the tribe's young dragon-fighting recruits.[4]
  • Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman, Hiccup's best friend.[5]
  • Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson, Hiccup's rival.[5]
  • Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston, Tuffnut's twin sister.[5]
  • Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston, Ruffnut's twin brother.[5]
  • Ruth Codd as Phlegma, a member of the Viking village.[6]

Additionally, Peter Serafinowicz and Murray McArthur have been cast in undisclosed roles.[7]

Production

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Development

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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]

Casting

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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

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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.[10][11] After the strike concluded, screen tests were set for December 2023, with plans to begin production in mid-to-late January 2024.[11] Filming began on January 15, 2024, and wrapped on May 16.[12][13][14] Bill Pope served as the cinematographer.[15] 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.[16]

Post-production

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Framestore will provide the film's visual effects, with Christian Manz serving as the production VFX supervisor.[17]

Release

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How to Train Your Dragon is scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2025, including engagements in RealD 3D and IMAX.[18] It was previously set for release on March 14, 2025,[8] but was delayed to its current release date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[18]

Marketing

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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.[19] The trailer was later released online on November 19.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "How To Train Your Dragon". Universal Pictures. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c 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.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ a b c d e D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 24, 2024). "How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Pic Expands Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  6. ^ a b 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.
  7. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (November 20, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Teaser Trailer Reveals First Footage From Live-Action Remake". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b 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 8, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Bythrow, Nick (January 15, 2024). "How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Movie Filming Announced With BTS Photo". ScreenRant.
  13. ^ Peralta, Diego (January 15, 2024). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live Action Takes Flight as Production Begins". Collider. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Peralta, Diego (May 16, 2024). "Live-Action 'How to Train Your Dragon' Wraps Filming in Northern Ireland". Collider. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  15. ^ "Bill Pope, ASC" (PDF). Dattner Dispoto & Associates. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Nick Frost Boards 'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Feature". Animation World Network. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  18. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 3, 2023). "'How To Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Feature Pushed Due To Actors Strike". Deadline. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "How To Train Your Dragon Is 'Dialled-Up In Terms Of Stakes' In Live-Action". Empire. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  20. ^ Betancourt, Emiliana (November 19, 2024). "'How to Train Your Dragon' Live-Action Trailer: Hiccup and Toothless Come to Life After Hit Animated Trilogy". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
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