Everything About the How to Train Your Dragon Live-action film 

Dragons, Vikings, and a story of friendship! Yes, How to Train Your Dragon is back again, but this time in live-action form. The critically acclaimed and beloved animated film franchise first began in 2010. The second film was released in 2014 and the third film in the trilogy found its way to theaters in 2019. 

The much-anticipated live-action film recently released its first official trailer, giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come. The animated films tell the story of a young and bumbling Viking, Hiccup, befriending a dragon, Toothless. They work together to bring peace between the long-warring human and dragon populace. 

Curious about the characters, actors, plot twists, and more about the live-action adaptation? Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates and insights into this film!

Release date & Where to Watch How to Train Your Dragon?

The live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon will hit theaters on Friday, June 13, 2025. 

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What is the plot of How to Train Your Dragon?  

The plot of the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon will likely follow that of the first animated film of the franchise. The film follows Hiccup, the son of the village chieftain, Stoick the Vast. Hiccup is seen as too weak to fight the dragons who attack their village of Berk often. 

However, he is great at making mechanical devices, and during a dragon raid, he uses his invention to injure one dragon. When he goes to find the fallen dragon in the jungle, he discovers that it is a rare breed of dragon, a Night Fury. However, instead of killing it, he lets the creature go because he can’t bring himself to take a life. 

This act of kindness surprises the creature as well. Hiccup then discovers that the animal can’t fly because a part of his tail fin got torn off during the initial raid. Feeling pity toward the animal and guilt for his actions, Hiccup makes a prosthetic fin and a harness for the dragon. He also starts calling the creature Toothless because of its retractable teeth. 

However, there is a surprising revelation that threatens to tear this unlikely friendship apart. But more than that, Hiccup and Toothless might be the only two who can put a stop to the frequent dragon attacks on Berk. 

Who is in the cast of How to Train Your Dragon? 

• Mason Thames as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Son of Stoick the Vast)
• Nico Parker as Astrid
• Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast (The chieftain of Berk and Hiccup's father)
• Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman
• Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson
• Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston (Tuffnut's twin sister)
• Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston (Ruffnut's twin brother)
• Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch
• Ruth Codd as Phlegma
• Nick Cornwall as Hürl
• Samuel Johnson as Skaldor

Official Trailer

The teaser of How to Train Your Dragon has been released and it shows Hiccup struggling to follow in his father’s footsteps and kill dragons. When the time comes to kill one, he hesitates. But his kindness is reciprocated by the dragon. Check out the video here: 

Filming Location

Filming began on Jan.15, 2024, and practical sets were used to bring the film to life. Shooting wrapped in May. 16, 2024. A lot of shots were re-created exactly as they were in the animated version. 

Behind the Scenes

How to Train Your Dragon live-action is directed by Dean DeBlois and produced by Marc Platt, DeBlois, and Adam Siegel. Cinematography is by Bill Pope and John Powell has given the music. Apart from DreamWorks Animation, Marc Platt Productions has also worked on the film. Universal Pictures is distributing the film.