Dean DeBlois, the visionary filmmaker behind the beloved How to Train Your Dragon animated trilogy, is returning to the Isle of Berk for the franchise’s ambitious live-action adaptation. While bringing the world of Hiccup, Toothless, and the Vikings to life has been a lifelong dream for DeBlois, he recently revealed that the upcoming remake is far from a simple shot-for-shot retread, adding substantial new material to deepen the cherished story.
Set to arrive in theaters on June 13, 2025, Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon marks a significant moment for both the studio and DeBlois. For Universal and DreamWorks Animation, it’s their first major live-action adaptation of a popular animated franchise, a strategy famously employed by other studios. For DeBlois, it’s his unexpected debut directing a live-action narrative feature, especially surprising given that a live-action adaptation of his earlier co-directed film, Lilo & Stitch, is also releasing concurrently without his involvement.
DeBlois expressed gratitude that Universal approached him as the original filmmaker, a courtesy he feels is rare in the current wave of remakes. This respectful offer, coupled with his own “selfish” desire to protect the heart of the story and world he knows so intimately, ultimately convinced him to take the helm. The remarkable advancements in visual effects for creatures, spurred by productions like Game of Thrones, also made the prospect of realizing dragons in a credible, live-action setting particularly appealing.
Transitioning to Live-Action
Despite his extensive experience in animation and other mediums like documentaries, DeBlois was acutely aware of the challenges animation directors face transitioning to live-action. He prepared meticulously, studying filmmaking techniques, behind-the-scenes features, and even shows like Project Greenlight. On set, he leaned heavily on seasoned collaborators, including acclaimed cinematographer Bill Pope, who was recommended by Roger Deakins (a visual consultant on the original animated film), and composer John Powell, who returned to score the live-action film, his iconic melodies often played on set to immerse the cast and crew.
Expanding the World: Over 27 Minutes of New Material
While the live-action adaptation honors the original by recreating many iconic moments, DeBlois confirmed that the film includes at least 27 minutes of brand-new material. This isn’t just padding; the additions serve specific narrative purposes, allowing for a deeper exploration of character relationships, expanded action sequences, and even addressing perceived shortcomings or plot points from the rushed 15-month production of the 2010 animated film.
Key additions include:
Deeper Character Interplay: Scenes allowing relationships, such as those between Hiccup and Astrid, and Hiccup and Stoick, to develop with more depth and nuance. The tense moments leading up to Hiccup’s Monstrous Nightmare test are expanded to show these dynamics.
Expanded Action: Sequences like Stoick leading the Viking ships into the treacherous fog are shown visually, rather than just being suggested, reminding the audience of the dragons’ fearsome nature that Hiccup is challenging by befriending Toothless. The intense arena sequence where Toothless intervenes is also amplified.
Addressing Original Flaws: DeBlois seized the opportunity to fix minor plot holes (like how the Vikings got back to Berk after the Red Death battle) and, significantly, give characters like Astrid more backstory and agency to explain her initial resentment towards Hiccup, rectifying a “missed opportunity” from the first movie.
Conversely, some smaller scenes from the animated version were omitted, such as Hiccup being bothered by Terrible Terrors on the beach or Astrid nearly discovering Hiccup and Toothless in the blacksmith stall. DeBlois felt these moments were less necessary in live-action, trusting the actors’ performances to convey the story beats effectively and maintain the film’s pace for the expanded sequences.
Casting the Isle of Berk
Finding the right actors was crucial. Dean DeBlois recounted discovering Mason Thames for the role of Hiccup unexpectedly. While on a flight to London to scout potential candidates, he watched The Black Phone and was so impressed by Thames’ performance that he insisted the young actor be considered. As it turned out, Thames was a lifelong fan of the franchise, having grown up with the films and even dressing as Hiccup for Halloween, adding a layer of “destiny” to his casting. Thames aimed to capture Hiccup’s core traits like sarcasm and wit but also explore a “darker, sadder, and lonelier side,” drawing on his own experiences and inspiration from characters like Spider-Man. His prior success with Universal on The Black Phone also likely played a role. Thames also highlighted the positive experience working with Nico Parker as Astrid, recalling her helping ease his nerves during their chemistry read.
Reprising the role of Stoick the Vast in live-action is Gerard Butler, a choice that resonated strongly with fans. DeBlois revealed that Butler was initially unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, but the 2023 actors’ strike unexpectedly created an opening that allowed him to join the cast. DeBlois also shared a touching gesture: dedicating the film to Butler’s late mother, Margaret Coll, a tribute he proposed to the studio before surprising the actor.
Early Box Office Success and Future
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon has already started strong at the box office. The film pulled in an impressive $11.1 million from previews, including $8.6 million from regular Thursday previews and $2.5 million from earlier Wednesday screenings – making it one of the best preview showings of the year. This strong start positions the film for a projected #1 opening weekend, potentially exceeding $75 million. Audience reception has been overwhelmingly positive, reflected in a high 99% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, alongside a favorable 77% critical score. The film also benefits from securing premium IMAX and large-format screens.
Looking ahead, DeBlois is open to directing potential sequels if the film is successful. He sees future installments as further opportunities to course-correct perceived regrets from the animated films’ tight production schedules and delve deeper into the characters and unexplored story elements, ensuring the live-action films offer a unique dimension rather than simply replacing the animated originals.
With its blend of beloved characters, iconic moments, and compelling new narrative layers, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon* aims to offer both a nostalgic embrace for long-time fans and an exciting entry point for a new generation when it arrives in theaters.
