Film news: Everything you need to know about the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake
Universal Pictures unveiled the official trailer for its live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon on Wednesday.
The film is derived from the beloved animated original of the same name that spawned a beloved trilogy.
Film News Blitz’s David Bason breaks down what you need to know about one of this summer’s most eagerly anticipated movies.
What is How to Train Your Dragon about?
How to Train Your Dragon follows the same plot as the 2010 DreamWorks animated feature of the same name.
For those who haven’t had the chance to witness the Oscar-nominated classic, Universal’s marketing materials for the live-action remake include an official synopsis.
“On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart.
“The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast, 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 and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber 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.”
Why are we getting a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon?
The How to Train Your Dragon animated trilogy, based on Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling novels, was an undisputed success.
Loved by fans the world over, the trilogy earned four Oscar nominations and grossed over $1.6 billion at the global box office.
Universal and DreamWorks are seeking to capitalise on that popularity using a method successfully employed by Disney.
Disney has made a habit of producing live-action remakes of its beloved animated classics over the last decade, including, but not limited to Cinderella, The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.
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It’s a trend that will continue this year with Snow White for one reason and one reason alone: money.
More often than not, Disney’s live-action remakes have been a resounding hit at the box office with the quartet of releases aforementioned each grossing over half a billion dollars.
The Jungle Book made a whisker under a billion, a mark Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King passed with flying colours.
DreamWorks and Universal will be hoping to reap similar rewards with the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon as Disney has proved it is possible when done right.
What did we learn from the new trailer?
Wednesday's official trailer isn’t the first glimpse fans have had of the upcoming How to Train Your Dragon.
A few short days prior Universal dropped a short teaser during Super Bowl Sunday and last November a one-minute teaser was dropped and has since garnered over 20 million views on YouTube.
The new trailer is a lengthier affair running at just over two minutes and is full of familiar scenes to fans of the animated original.
We see Hiccup and Toothless meet, our central hero reject his father Stoick’s demands to be a dragon slayer and his transformation into a dragon rider amid John Powell’s rousing score.
Who is in the cast?
Save for Gerard Butler, who reprises his role as Stoick from the animated original, a new cast of talented actors will help bring How to Train Your Dragon to life.
Mason Thames (The Black Phone) is Hiccup, starring alongside Nico Parker’s Astrid (The Last of Us) and Nick Frost’s (Shaun of the Dead) Gobber.
Deadpool 2 star Julian Dennison is Fishlegs and Gabriel Howell (Bodies) is Snotlout.
Bronwyn James (Wicked) and Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered) play the iconic twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut.
The ensemble cast is rounded out by Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).
Who is behind the camera?
Who better to bring the live-action remake to life than the man responsible for creating the original How to Train Your Dragon trilogy?
That’s precisely the thinking employed by DreamWorks as Writing and Directing was carried out by Dean DeBlois.
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DeBlois co-directed the original animated entry in 2010 before helming the two sequels solo and he had a hand in writing the whole trilogy, so fans can rest easy knowing this will be a faithful adaptation.
Cinematography comes courtesy of Bill Pope, whose list of impressive credits includes The Matrix, Spider-Man 2 and The Jungle Book.
Editing is being led by Wyatt Smith (Doctor Strange) with Production Design overseen by Dominic Watkins (Snow White and the Huntsman).
When will How to Train Your Dragon be out in cinemas?
Fans will be able to see the amalgamation of the cast and crew’s efforts on How to Train Your Dragon when it soars into theatres on June 13, 2025.
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