A live-action film based on DreamWorks' 2010 animated feature How to Train Your Dragonis officially in the works at Universal.
Following a previous report from industry insider Daniel Richtman, Variety has confirmed that a live-action How to Train Your Dragon film is being developed, with Dean DeBlois -- who wrote and directed the original animated film trilogy -- returning to do the same for the live-action reboot. The new film is currently slated to premiere in theaters on March 14, 2025.
In addition to writing and directing, DeBlois will serve as a producer on the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. Marc Platt and Adam Siegel are also attached to produce for the Universal-based Marc Platt Productions. Lexi Barta, Universal's VP of production development, will oversee the film on behalf of the studio.
The How to Train Your Dragon Franchise Continues
Based on the children's novel series of the same name by author Cressida Cowell, DreamWorks' original How to Train Your Dragon film hit theaters in 2010. DreamWorks went on to produce two sequels, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, which released in 2014 and 2019, respectively. The first film was distributed by Paramount Pictures, while the second was distributed by 20th Century Fox. Universal took over as distributor for the third and most recent animated feature.
2010's How to Train Your Dragon introduced audiences to the Viking village of Berk, as well as series protagonist Hiccup and his trusty dragon companion, Toothless. The film was directed by Chris Sanders and DeBlois from a script the two wrote with Will Davies. DeBlois went on to serve as the sole writer and director of both 2014's How to Train Your Dragon 2and 2019's The Hidden World. Outside the Dragons franchise, DeBlois is perhaps best known for writing and directing Disney's 2002 animated film Lilo & Stitch alongside the aforementioned Sanders.
Of course, DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon franchise isn't limited to the big screen. An animated spinoff series titled Dragons ran for a total of eight seasons from 2012 to 2018, initially airing on Cartoon Network before jumping ship to Netflix starting with Season 3. Another animated series titled Dragons: Rescue Riders ran for six seasons from 2019 to 2022. The show initially premiered on Netflix before moving to the NBCUniversal-owned Peacock starting with Season 3.
Currently, DreamWorks is still producing Dragons: The Nine Realms, an animated series that streams simultaneously on Peacock and Hulu. A modern-day-set spinoff of How to Train Your Dragon, The Nine Realms premiered in December 2021, with its fourth and most recent season hitting Peacock and Hulu in November 2022. A fifth season is slated to premiere in just a few weeks on Thursday, March 2.
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie opens in theaters on March 14, 2025.