Universal Pictures announces live-action How to Train Your Dragon; to release on June 13, 2025

May 14, 2025 - 11:53 AM IST

Universal Pictures (distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery) proudly announces the return of a timeless classic with How to Train Your Dragon, soaring into theaters on 13th June 2025. Directed by three-time Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the film marks a thrilling new chapter as the beloved animated saga transforms into an epic live-action adventure. Bringing the magic to life is an exciting cast: Mason Thames as Hiccup, BAFTA nominee Nico Parker as Astrid, and Gerard Butler returns as Stoick the Vast. They are joined by Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Murray McArthur. After enchanting a generation, the story is back to reignite the wonder, the fire, and the heartfelt nostalgia fans have cherished for years.

Universal Pictures announces live-action How to Train Your Dragon; to release on June 13, 2025

Set in the Viking village of Berk, where Vikings have long waged war against dragons, the film follows the journey of Hiccup, a clever yet underestimated young inventor, who struggles to find his place as the son of the formidable Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). Everything changes when Hiccup encounters Toothless, a mysterious and legendary Night Fury. Instead of slaying the creature as expected, he makes a world-altering choice—to show mercy. This act of defiance sparks an extraordinary friendship that challenges centuries of fear and tradition. As the bond between boy and dragon deepens, Hiccup becomes an unlikely bridge between two worlds, leading his people toward a future shaped not by strength, but by understanding and heart.

As anticipation builds for the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, director Dean DeBlois reflects on what lies at the heart of the story says, “The bond between Hiccup and Toothless is the soul of the story,” He further adds. “Their connection is transformative—it’s what allows Hiccup to find his true strength and redefine what it means to be a Viking.”

DeBlois also shares his personal connection to the franchise says, “I decided to revisit How to Train Your Dragon because it presented a remarkable opportunity—not only to direct a live-action film, but to return to a world I’ve genuinely missed,” DeBlois says. “These characters and this universe have stayed with me, and now we can bring them back with such authenticity and conviction that, when audiences enter this world, they’ll never want to leave.”