DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon is soaring back to the big screen, but this time, it’s going live-action! Fans who grew up loving Hiccup, Astrid, and Toothless in animated form will now get to see them brought to life with real actors. The franchise, which first took flight in 2010, is now following the trend of live-action remakes that Disney has made famous with hits like Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. DreamWorks officially announced the remake in early 2023, and filming has already wrapped.
With three animated movies, several shows, and beloved shorts under its belt, How to Train Your Dragon has become a fan favorite over the years. Now, the journey back to Berk feels closer than ever. As Hiccup and friends transition to live-action, fans are buzzing with questions about what’s in store. Don’t worry; we’ve got all the details on how to train your dragon in live action. Keep reading below!
Everything You Must Know About How to Train Your Dragon Live Action!
The synopsis of the movie franchise reads;
Advertisement On the island of Berk, Vikings and dragons have been enemies for generations. Hiccup, the inventive but often overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast, changes everything when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unexpected friendship reveals the truth about dragons and challenges the traditions of Viking society. With the determined Astrid and the quirky blacksmith Gobber by his side, Hiccup faces a world filled with fear and misunderstanding.
When a new threat endangers both dragons and Vikings, Hiccup’s bond with Toothless becomes the key to building a better future. Together, they must find a way to bring peace, redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon, produced by Universal, is set for a public release on June 13, 2025. The movie has finished filming and is now in post-production. Initially planned for release on March 14, 2025, the date was pushed back due to delays caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
The How to Train Your Dragon movies are based on Cressida Cowell’s book series, which started in 2003. While the books inspired the animated films, they didn’t stick closely to the original story. If you already know the plot of the animated version, the live-action movie will feel familiar.
DreamWorks also shared the official teaser trailer, which shows the iconic scene where Toothless lets Hiccup touch him for the first time, which is recreated with great detail. Watch it for yourself right here:
You can also watch this behind-the-scenes video to learn why the classic animated movie is being remade as live-action and how the main characters were cast:
Toothless Isn’t Scary in the New How to Train Your Dragon Trailer!
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon seems almost like a shot-for-shot remake, but it makes Toothless’ first appearance less scary, similar to how he looks in the later films. In the original movie, Toothless starts as a frightening creature that looks like it could quickly kill Hiccup.
However, in the live-action trailer, Toothless’ eyes are round and less menacing, making him appear more like a cute pet than a dangerous animal. But his eyes are round and friendly in the live-action version, like in the later films.
Who’s Starring in the Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon?
In How to Train Your Dragon, we get a whole crew of supporting characters who, like Hiccup, go on an incredible journey learning to live alongside the dragons. Here’s who’s playing them in the live-action movie:
- Gerard Butler as Stoick
- Mason Thames as Hiccup
- Nico Parker as Astrid
- Nick Frost as Gobber
- Julian Dennison as Fishlegs
- Gabriel Howell as Snotlout
- Bronwyn James as Ruffnut
- Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut
- Ruth Codd as Phlegma
Why is Gerard Butler as irreplaceable as Chief Stoick?
When the live-action How to Train Your Dragon was announced, many fans suggested actors for characters like Hiccup, Astrid, and Gobber. But finding someone to replace Chief Stoick would have been tough. Gerard Butler‘s age and presence fit the character of Stoick so well that it would have been a missed chance not to cast him.
The live-action movie will prove that Butler is the perfect choice for Stoick. As the leader of Berk, Stoick needs to have a strong presence, and Butler has shown he can play natural leaders, like King Leonidas in 300 and Mike Banning in the Has Fallen series. His ability to command attention makes him ideal for the role of Stoick.
Nick Frost Praises Hiccup Actor in Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon
Nick Frost praised Mason Thames‘ performance as Hiccup in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. In a recent interview with Collider, Frost talked about working on the film. Frost, who plays Gobber, Hiccup’s friend and blacksmith, praised Thames for being naturally funny and a pleasure to work with. Frost mentioned they had many scenes together, which led to some improvisation. He said:
Even not when we’re shooting, just watching him, watching how his body works is so weird and funny, and he has funny bones and he’s lovely. I got to meet his family a lot and they’re all lovely, and you can see why he’s as grounded as he is when you see where he comes from. We had a lot of scenes together, and there wasn’t one thing that I did during a scene that was unscripted that ruffled him at all. He just loved it. He loved to improvise. We loved to improvise together. I was like, ‘Hey, why don’t we try this?’ And he’d be like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it!’
Could the Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon Ever Win?
The filmmakers of How to Train Your Dragon had a tough job because making a completely different movie would likely lead to criticism. They could have followed Disney’s approach and made a similar movie with a few changes, but that probably wouldn’t have been well-received, given the mixed reviews Disney’s live-action films often get. It seemed like there was no way to make this adaptation a success so soon after the original movie. Here’s a quick look at the movies and their critical acclaim by Rotten Tomatoes:
| How to Train Your Dragon movies | ||
|---|---|---|
| Title | Year | Rotten Tomatoes critics |
| How to Train Your Dragon | 2010 | 99% |
| How to Train Your Dragon 2 | 2014 | 92% |
| How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | 2019 | 90% |
| How to Train Your Dragon | 2025 | – |
To make a successful remake, something needs to be improved in the original. Many Disney reboots update old stories for today’s audience, and old special effects in science fiction movies can be enhanced in remakes. But How to Train Your Dragon has a nearly perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, showing nothing was wrong with the original. Its visuals still look great, and the story is timeless. It’s hard to find a reason for a live-action remake when the original works so well.
Will the How to Train Your Dragon Remake be a Standout Success?
Many live-action remakes of animated films have been criticized for being too similar to the originals, especially with Disney’s adaptations that don’t change much. However, the How to Train Your Dragon remake has the chance to be very different and even more epic than the original movies. The announcement of a remake was a surprise, but with Dean DeBlois directing, his vision can now be even grander as it’s adapted into live-action.
DeBlois is working with cinematographer Bill Pope to bring this vision to life. Pope is known for his work on The Matrix trilogy, Spider-Man films, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, among others. DeBlois shared a photo of a clapperboard that confirmed the use of IMAX cameras. This will make the already epic world of How to Train Your Dragon even bigger in live-action.
Since the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy and TV show have been so successful, the story was expected to continue, no matter the format. If the film does well, it’s likely that live-action versions of the second and third movies will be made. This will give audiences a fresh take on the How to Train Your Dragon world, reimagined by the director who brought the original book to life on screen.
FAQs
Yes, a live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon is in the works and is scheduled for release in theaters on June 13, 2025.
Mason Thames will play Hiccup in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon.
How to Train Your Dragon is scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2025, including engagements in RealD 3D and IMAX.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) is the last movie.
Astrid develops as Hiccup’s crush, rival, best friend, girlfriend, fiancée, and eventually wife.
Nico Parker was cast as Astrid in How to Train Your Dragon.
The How to Train Your Dragon film trilogy is considered a coming-of-age story.
No, the How to Train Your Dragon movies are not over.
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.
Final Words!
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon has much potential to bring something new to the story fans already love. With Dean DeBlois directing again and a great cast, including Gerard Butler and Mason Thames, the film will stay true to the original and take advantage of live-action movie magic. It will bring the world of Berk and its dragons to life in exciting ways, making the adventure even more special. Fans can expect a beautiful and emotional movie when it’s released in 2025.