HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Director Teases Possibilities Beyond the Trilogy in Live-Action Expansion
Dean DeBlois isn’t only developing a live-action How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, he’s potentially expanding the entire world.
DeBlois, who directed all three of DreamWorks’ beloved animated Dragon films, is now at the helm of the live-action adaptation. Not only is the upcoming movie a direct adaptation of the first animated film, but DeBlois confirmed How to Train Your Dragon 2 is already set for the live-action treatment as well.
But that’s not all. At the grand opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, DeBlois revealed there may be even more live-action Dragon stories coming, films that aren’t just rehashes of the animated trilogy.
When asked about the potential for original live-action spinoffs, DeBlois said:
“I think there is, of course, yeah. The nice thing about it, especially revisiting it in live action, is casting a wider net in terms of the overall mythology and the world-building of it. So it does allow for, every direction we go, you could be just meeting new cultures, new dragons, so it does lend itself to that.”
He was quick to temper expectations, adding: “[But] I’m not very good at predicting the future. I’ve got [my] hands full with Dragon 2.”
That said, DeBlois clearly sees potential in this universe beyond just bringing the original story to life again. The world of Berk seems like a big and fun sandbox to play in with unseen dragons, and distant cultures, and a live-action expansion gives him the opportunity to build the mythology and finally explore these other things.
The upcoming film stars Mason Thames (The Black Phone) as Hiccup, with Gerard Butler returning as Stoick the Vast, alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid and Nick Frost as Gobber.
The official synopsis promises a faithful retelling with room to grow:
“On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon.
“Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
“As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.”
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon hits theaters in 2025.