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The Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Remake: Everything We Know
A live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake is arriving soon with original franchise director Dean DeBlois at the helm, and there’s already much to discuss ahead of the 2025 release date. The original How to Train Your Dragon introduced audiences to Hiccup, Astrid, the village of Berk, and the adorable-yet-deadly dragon Toothless back in 2010. Since then, two sequels and numerous TV spinoffs have arrived. DreamWorks and Universal are next taking a nod from Disney and delivering a live-action How to Train Your Dragon reboot.
Like the original animated franchise, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon will be loosely based on the original 2003 book by Cressida Cowell, with which it shares a title. The remake will bring Hiccup and Toothless into live-action, adapting the story of the original for a new audience. With the release date set and cast updates already arriving, it’s clear that the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake could be the start of another box-office-smashing franchise for DreamWorks and Universal.
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How To Watch The How To Train Your Dragon Movies & TV Shows In Order
The How to Train Your Dragon franchise boasts a number of installments, both in movies and TV. Here’s how to watch the full series in order.
Latest Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon News
The Full Trailer Is Revealed
After a slew of shorter teasers, the latest news arrives in the form of the full trailer for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake. Opening with narration from Stoick as he explains the history of conflict between humans and dragons, the trailer then shifts to young Hiccup, who is tasked with slaying a dragon to prove his Viking credentials. Hiccup instead befriends the dragon, and his new stance on the giant reptiles makes him an outcast from his own tribe. With major battles looming, Hiccup must team up with his new dragon friend (and some young compatriots) to help stop the war.
Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Release Date
The Live-Action Adaptation Arrives In 2025
Image via Universal Pictures
The release date for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake was originally set for March 2025. Filming was due to start in June 2023. However, due to the WGA and then SAG-AFTRA strikes that began in May of that year, production had to be delayed (via CBR). The release date has since been moved to June 13, 2025. This delay might be disheartening, but it actually puts the movie closer to the summer blockbuster season, where it truly belongs.
The WGA strike was resolved in September 2023, with the SAG-AFTRA strike concluding in November.
Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Cast
Gerard Butler Reprises His Role From The Animated Films
There have already been several announcements for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon cast. Hiccup, the protagonist of the franchise and first dragon trainer in Berk, will be played by Mason Thames (The Black Phone). Nico Park (The Last of Us) is assuming the role of Astrid, and Gerard Butler has signed on to reprise his role as Stoick the Vast, Hiccup’s father. Various other newcomers have also been added to the cast, including funnyman Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch.
Popular supporting roles like Fishlegs have gone to newcomer Julian Dennison, while Snotlout will be played by Gabriel Howell. Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn are set to play Ruffnut and Tuffnut, respectively, while Ruth Codd will play Phlegma. The animated films feature a large ensemble, and it’s assumed that more characters will be announced as the movie nears its release date.
The cast of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon includes:
|
Actor |
How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Role |
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|---|---|---|
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Mason Thames |
Hiccup |
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Nico Park |
Astrid |
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Gerard Butler |
Stoick the Vast |
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Nick Frost |
Gobber the Belch |
|
|
Julian Dennison |
Fishlegs |
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Gabriel Howell |
Snotlout |
|
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Bronwyn James |
Ruffnut |
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Harry Trevaldwyn |
Tuffnut |
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Ruth Codd |
Phlegma |
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The Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Casting Controversy Explained
The Casting Of Astrid Drew Criticisms Online
The outrage is not unlike similar blow-ups over the casting of Rachel Zegler in the live-action Snow White film or Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid.
As is often the case with any adaptation of a popular intellectual property, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie was mired in casting controversy before it was even released. When it was announced that Nico Parker would be playing the role of Astrid in the live-action movie, a small furor began online with many criticizing the choice to cast a Black person in a role that was traditionally White. The outrage is not unlike similar blow-ups over the casting of Rachel Zegler in the live-action Snow White film or Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid.
Rightly sticking up for his choices, and for one of his young stars, director Dean DeBlois quickly responded to the outrage online. Standing by Parker in the role of Astrid, DeBlois made it clear that she was the best actor for the job and specifically cited her audition and body of work as evidence. He also reminded those who were upset over the casting that How to Train Your Dragon is a piece of fantasy and that the characters could look like anyone.
Read DeBloise’s full comment here:
Exactly. We auditioned many actors for the roles, including actors who looked like their animated counterparts. But we chose the actors who best embodied the spirit and personality of the characters, since the tribe in this version is made up of descendants of the finest dragon fighters from everywhere the Vikings had ever traveled (which historically was far and wide – Vikings mixed with many cultures). Still, we’re crafting a fantasy, not historical fact, and all will be revealed in time. We’re not making a shot for shot remake. We just struck close to key moments to honor the original – which I remain very proud of. The tease features a few of those moments. Instead of a completely new tale, we aimed to embellish and deepen, without abandoning the story that fans love.
Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Story
A Live-Action Remake Of The First Movie Is Expected
Hiccup doesn’t share their obsession but does want to impress his father, the legendary village chief Stoic the Vast
As a remake, the upcoming live-action How to Train Your Dragon plot is expected to mirror the original 2010 movie closely. The story focuses on Hiccup, a young, clumsy Viking from the village of Berk. The Vikings of Berk have one favorite pastime — slaying Dragons. However, Hiccup doesn’t share their obsession but does want to impress his father, the legendary village chief Stoic the Vast. Therefore, he uses his knack for invention to create novel ways of taking down Dragons.
This leads Hiccup to capture a Night Fury, one of the rarest and most dangerous varieties of Dragon, but Hiccup soon learns that the Night Fury, whom he names Toothless, isn’t as fearsome as he first appeared. He trains Toothless, proving that Vikings and Dragons can coexist. This starts a new age of Dragon Riders in Berk, spawning several sequels and spinoff TV shows from the incredibly successful, yet simple, premise. When the live-action How to Train Your Dragon release date arrives in 2025 the plot will likely follow the same basic structure.
Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Trailers
Watch All The Live-Action Trailers Below
After a long wait, Universal revealed a trailer for How to Train Your Dragon in November 2024. The short teaser opens with shots of the island of Berk, as well as the vikings who inhabit the Nordic isle. Hiccup is introduced while talking to his father, Stoick, who informs his son that he will one day be a great viking warrior who slays dragons. Unsure that he can dispatch the creatures, the final scene recreates the iconic first meeting between Hiccup and his newfound dragon friend, Toothless.
Several months after the first teaser arrived, another short trailer dropped in January 2025. The in-depth look at How to Train Your Dragon opens once again with an introduction of Hiccup and his father, who wants him to become a powerful Viking warrior. Hiccup doesn’t want to slay dragons, and footage of a deadly dragon attack on Viking longboats makes the beasts seem even more dangerous. Finally, Hiccup is tasked with killing a bound dragon, but he frees him instead. The trailer closes with Hiccup forming a close bond with the dragon that will eventually be known as toothless.
Universal premiered a new teaser for How to Train Your Dragon during the NFL’s 2025 Super Bowl, and though it covers much of the same ground, it has some new clips too. Showing the first heartfelt meeting between Toothless and Hiccup once again, the 30-second spot then shows them flying together for the first time. It concludes with a looming battle between the Vikings and a massive dragon that ravages the countryside.
Following a string of short teasers for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, Universal finally revealed the full trailer in February 2025. Opening with spirited narration from Stoick as he recounts the bloody history between humans and dragons, the trailer then introduces young Hiccup who is on the precipice of becoming a true Viking. Unable to slay a dragon, Hiccup instead befriends it, and his new stance on dragons makes him a pariah in his community. With a war looming, Hiccup and his friends (both dragon and human) must team up to stop widespread destruction.
- Release Date
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June 13, 2025
- Runtime
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116 Minutes
- Director
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Dean DeBlois
- Writers
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Dean DeBlois
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Mason Thames
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
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Gerard Butler
Stoick the Vast
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Nick Frost
Gobber the Belch
