Toothless is ready to soar high with Hiccup again as Universal Pictures is developing a live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ film. The helmer of the original animated trilogy, Dean DeBlois, returns to direct, write, and produce the upcoming live-action version.
It seems like Universal is finally learning a thing or two from Disney about live-action adaptations of the beloved animated originals. Also, hiring DeBlois back as the helmer for the forthcoming project sounds like a safe move from the studio. DeBlois’ animated trilogy consists of How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019). All three movies received nominations for Oscars in the Best Animated Feature category.
Like the animated series, the upcoming live-action project will explore the mythical Viking village of Berk. Hiccup, the eccentric son of chieftain Stoick, befriends Toothless, a black dragon with retractable teeth. The duo slays the Red Death, a dangerous gargantuan dragon, and saves Berk and its people. As a result, Hiccup wins the trust of his father and the entire village. Also, the village commences a new era of dragons and humans living together in peace and harmony.
All three animated films took inspiration from Cressida Cowell‘s HTTYD book series and collected more than $1.6 billion at the global box office. This scenario encouraged DreamWorks to deliver three animated series to the fans – Rescue Riders, DreamWorks Dragons, and The Nine Realms.
The original trilogy treasured a star-studded cast, consisting of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, T. J. Miller, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, and many more talents.
The development of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ live-action project is well underway. Universal has not yet revealed the cast but the film will hit the theatres worldwide on March 14, 2025. Stay tuned for more updates.