What’s worth knowing about HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON live actors

Published: October 3, 2024

Everything we know about the live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ movie.

Contributor to Movieguide®

Correct. Dream Works’ “How to Train Your Dragon” is getting a live-action remake. Here’s everything we know so far.

“DreamWorks’ ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ will be back on screens, only this time with real actors rather than animated characters,” Parade reported on September 29. “…The How to Train Your Dragon remake was first announced in February 2023 and since filming wrapped.”

Movieguide® gave all three animated films in the series favorable reviews, and the first and third films received Teddy Bear Awards®. An excerpt from the How to Train Your Dragon review reads:

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON is fun, entertaining, exciting and uplifting family fun. The 3D effects are excellent and thrilling! The main theme is Hiccup’s reconciliation with his father and other Vikings. There is also a solid, positive redemptive message about a hero sacrificing himself to subdue and redeem creation and humanity. However, the film has some terrifying scenes. There are also references to pagan Norse mythology about the Vikings. Therefore, caution is advised with younger children.

The live-action film will be released on June 13 next year and is produced by Universal. The film is currently in post-production and was initially scheduled for release next year on March 14, but was delayed due to SAG-AFTRA strikes.

“How to Train Your Dragon fans may already know that the films are based on a series of books by Cressida Cowell, the first of which was published in 2003. And even more die-hard fans know that the animated films weren’t very faithful to the animated film. source material,” Parade said.

“However, it appears that the live-action remake will mean a continuation of the plot of the first animated film, the story that everyone knows and loves, and not the one from the book. It will focus on a boy named Hiccup who lives on the island of Berk,” Parade continued. “Instead of learning how to fight and slay dragons, as is expected of him, Hiccup befriends the dangerous Night Fury dragon and names it Toothless. The plot follows Hiccup and Toothless as they try to stop the fighting between humans and dragons and find a way to live together peacefully.

Although the plot is the same, it will not be a true clone of the animated picture.

“I think it’s a completely separate thing, but I’d like to think that magic is also dominant in this case. But I think it’s its own movie and its own interpretation, and everyone has their own version of the character,” said Nico Parker, who plays Astrid in the live-action version. “It’s important not to worry too much about it, especially since the animations are so brilliant.”

“It’s like, let’s not just try to play on it. And if someone wants, they can watch the animated ones,” she continued. “I think it will be wonderful, and if not, I’m still having a great time doing it. I’ll think it’s great, no matter what.

The same animated filmmaker, Dean DeBlois, will direct, write and produce the live-action. He is also the co-writer and co-director of LILO & STITCH.

The same composer of the original films, John Powell, will also return to create a new soundtrack for the film.

“How to Train Your Dragon (2025) has not released an official trailer yet… a trailer will likely drop in the months leading up to the release date,” Parade reported.

The film features only the original cast, with the exception of Gerard Butler, who will play Hiccup’s father, Stoic the Great, as he voiced him in the films.

“Mason Thames, who co-led THE BLACK PHONE with Ethan Hawke, will play main character Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a young blacksmith apprentice who befriends the dangerous dragon Toothless despite the wishes of his father, the village chief,” EW reported. “Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated films.”

Nick “Frost” starred in HOT FUZZ (2007) and SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004). Here he plays Gobber, Berk’s blacksmith, who mentors Hiccup and advises Stoick on matters affecting the village,” Parade said. “Gobber was voiced by Craig Ferguson in the original film.”

Frost was pleased to work with Thames on the film and praised his performance in a recent interview.

“Even when we’re filming, just watching him, seeing how his body works, it’s so strange and funny, and he has weird bones and he’s wonderful,” Frost said. “I have met his family often and they are all wonderful. When you see where he’s coming from, you can see why he’s so down to earth. We did a lot of scenes together and there wasn’t a single thing I did during the unscripted scene that upset him. He just loved it.”

“He loved to improvise,” Frost continued. “We loved improvising together. I thought, “Hey, why don’t we try this?” And he said, “Yes, let’s do it!”