How to Train Your Dragon (2025 film)

How to Train Your Dragon is an upcoming American action fantasy film produced by Marc Platt Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. A live-action adaptation and remake of DreamWorks Animation's 2010 animated film of the same name, which itself is loosely based on the 2003 book of the same name by Cressida Cowell, it is written, co-produced and directed by Dean DeBlois, who also wrote and directed the animated film trilogy. The film stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, and Ruth Codd, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast from the animated films.

Plans for a live-action remake of 2010's How to Train Your Dragon were announced in February 2023, with DeBlois returning to write, direct, and produce, while John Powell, who worked on the original trilogy, also returned to compose the score of the film. Thames and Parker joined the cast by May 2023, with additional casting revealed in January 2024. Filming began later that month in Belfast, Northern Ireland and wrapped in May.

How to Train Your Dragon is set to be released theatrically in the United States on June 13, 2025.

Cast

 * Mason Thames as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the awkward son of Stoick the Vast.
 * Nico Parker as Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup's fellow student in dragon-fighting training as well as Hiccup’s love interest.
 * Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast, the chieftain of Berk and Hiccup's father; Butler reprises his role after having previously voiced the character in the animated films.
 * Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch, Berk's blacksmith, a close friend of Stoick's and teacher of the tribe's young dragon-fighting recruits.
 * Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman, Hiccup’s best friend.
 * Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson, Hiccup’s cousin.
 * Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston, Tuffnut's twin sister.
 * Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston, Ruffnut's twin brother.
 * Ruth Codd as Phlegma, a member of the Viking village.

Development
In February 2023, it was reported that a live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation's 2010 How to Train Your Dragon film, which was loosely based on Cressida Cowell's eponymous book series, was in development at Universal Pictures, with Dean DeBlois directing, writing, and producing the film after previously writing and directing the animated entries, and Marc Platt and Adam Siegel joining as co-producers. That same month, John Powell revealed he was set to compose the film's music, after he previously scored the original film and its sequels.

Casting
In May 2023, it was announced that Mason Thames and Nico Parker had been cast to star as Hiccup and Astrid respectively. In January 2024, Gerard Butler was cast to reprise his role as Stoick from the animated films, with Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn joining the cast later that same month, who were cast to play Gobber, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, respectively. In March, Ruth Codd joined the cast of the film portraying Phlegma.

Filming
Principal photography was originally scheduled to begin in July 2023 in Belfast, Northern Ireland before it was postponed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. After the strike concluded, screen tests were set for December 2023, with plans to begin production in mid-to-late January 2024. Filming began on January 15, 2024 and wrapped on May 16. Bill Pope served as the cinematographer. Production was done with heavy use of practical sets.

Visual effects
Framestore will provide the film's visual effects, with Christian Manz serving as the production VFX supervisor.

Release
How to Train Your Dragon is scheduled to be released by Universal Pictures on June 13, 2025. It was previously set for release on March 14, 2025, but was delayed to its current release date due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.