On February 15, 2023, the director of the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, Dean DeBlois, announced that they would be making a live action version of the first movie. Fast-forward to 2025, the movie is set to release on June 13, 2025 and is already making headlines. It was filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The trailer of the movie met with great support from its fans. The movie is being produced by Dreamworks Animations and Universal Studios.
How To Train Your Dragon was a movie trilogy that was officially released in 2010, 2014, and 2019. The director of the movies, Dean DeBlois, was officially against the idea of a live action version of the first movie but decided to give it a try because he felt like it was going to do well. The movie was initially said to come out in 2027 but it being released earlier in 2025 was a pleasant surprise to its fans.
The new cast of How To Train Your Dragon live-action has been confirmed. Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker is playing Asrtid, Gerald Butler for Stoick, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn as Ruffnut and Tuffnut. As for Toothless, CGI has never looked better.
Some of the actors who were chosen met with some criticism, fans saying that Mason Thames wasn’t nearly as awkward as Hiccup or that Nico Parker does not have the same hair and eyes as Astrid, some even say that Mason Thames’ acting is too much like the original animated movie and that he needs to make his character stand out more to make it more refreshing.
Dean DeBlois has promised fans that he will honor the original movie and alongside script-writer Chris Sanders and original novel writer Cressida Cowel will make sure that the new movie is not a disappointment like often live-actions are.
The original movie that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, acceptance and peace has set high standards for the live-action movie. The movie is expected to deliver great emotional depth, good acting and first and foremost, a perfect retelling of the original movie.
Although the trailer of the new movie did receive some criticism, it received tenfold the love. A few fellow students from Fords Middle School shared some insights on the new movie, with Khadija T, an 8th grader, stating, “I think the animated movie is really good and I’m very excited that they’ve decided to make the live-action version. I’m really excited about how everything will turn out and I hope Toothless is as cute or even cuter than in the movie.” Another fellow student, Aliya G us quoted as stating, “I think it’s really nice and amazing how they are remaking such an awesome movie and I’m really excited because the graphics in the trailer were really good.”
It’s safe to say that the How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action movie that will be releasing on June 13, 2025 will be well loved and well received by its fans.
