Live-Action Remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” Set for June 13 Release

by Annika February 14, 2025

The trailer for the live-action remake of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ has been launched. Director Dean DeBlois expressed his excitement over retelling his story in a novel manner. The film, featuring Mason Thames and Nico Parker in the lead roles, is set to release on June 13.

– Universal Pictures has released the trailer for the live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” set to hit theaters on June 13, featuring new depth and richness in character relationships and mythology, according to director Dean DeBlois.
– The animated dragons are designed meticulously to avoid excessive anthropomorphism, using cues from dog, cat, and horse videos to convey desired attitudes without sacrificing personality.
– In this reimagined story, Hiccup (played by Mason Thames), becomes the first Viking not to kill a dragon and Astrid (portrayed by Nico Parker) dreams of becoming the chief of a Viking tribe, generating conflicts between the characters.

Universal Pictures premiered the complete trailer following a snippet aired during Super Bowl LIX, before the movie’s release in theaters on June 13. The live-action cinematic production is a reworking of the successful animated movie by DreamWorks Animation, which debuted in 2010, retaining the titular moniker.

Writer-director Dean DeBlois brings forth the new interpretation of How to Train Your Dragon, featuring Mason Thames in the role of Hiccup, and Nico Parker playing Astrid. Outstanding actors such as Gerard Butler, Nick Frost and Julian Dennison are part of the rest of the cast. DeBlois has been engaged with the franchise since its inception, and had collaborated with Chris Sanders on the 2010 animated producción.

During an event held to release the trailer, which included The Hollywood Reporter, DeBlois disclosed the roots of the new film. He reflected on the first movie’s production phase for DreamWorks and how certain aspects had been overlooked due to limited resources and a pressing schedule. He commented on the possibility of enhancing some character interactions, and providing further depth to their relationships and the action sequences. He considers the remake faithful to the original plot, but with selective improvements.

Astrid, a character Delois felt was “marginally underrepresented” in the initial movie, played by Nico Parker in the new film, embodies a distinctive culture, descends from prestigious dragon-fighting warriors apprehended by Vikings across varied regions. Her ambition exceeds those bounds as she aspires to be the tribal chief. This ambition introduces a dynamic tension between her and Hiccup.

The film’s team was mindful to not overly humanize the dragons. The animator’s task, as described by DeBlois, is akin to what their DreamWorks peers had to undertake; studying an array of animal behaviour la cat and horse videos to identify behavioural indicators and help construct personable dragons that the audience can relate to.

The new trailer for How to Train Your Dragon displays a scene where Hiccup explains his unique relationship to Astrid with Toothless, the dragon he has become friends with. Hiccup confesses, “I’m the first Viking who wouldn’t kill a dragon,” which Astrid follows up with “First to ride one, though.”

The popular franchise, including two movie sequels, draws inspiration from the written series by author Cressida Cowell. The producing team for the new cinematic adaptation comprises DeBlois, Marc Platt and Adam Siegel.