How To Train Your Dragon to take flight in a live-action flick

Helming the new feature film project at Universal Pictures is Dean DeBlois, who has writing and directing credits on the existing DreamWorks CG-animated trilogy.
February 16, 2023

Universal Pictures is developing a live-action film for the Viking fantasy franchise How To Train Your Dragon.

Set to premiere on March 14, 2025, the as-yet-untitled live-actioner will continue the IP’s story about a teenage boy who befriends a “Night Fury” dragon. 

How To Train Your Dragon made its market debut in 2003 as a book written by British children’s author Cressida Cowell. DreamWorks Animation took it to the big screen in 2010 with a same-name CG-animated film directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois (Lilo & Stitch), with sequels following in 2014 and 2019.

The trilogy has collectively grossed more than US$1.6 billion at the box office, earning four Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe win. The franchise also includes a CG-animated series called DreamWorks Dragons, which launched on Cartoon Network in 2012 before jumping over to Netflix in 2015.

DeBlois⁠—who has writing and directing credits on all three animated films—is returning to write and direct the live-actioner.

Attached to produce are Marc Platt and Adam Siegel from LA’s Marc Platt Productions (Better Nate Than Ever). VP of production development Lexi Barta will oversee the project for Universal Pictures.

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