One 'How to Train Your Dragon' Actor Is Returning for the Live-Action Remake
DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon is coming to screens again, only this time with real-life actors instead of animated characters.
The beloved animated movie franchise, which first premiered in 2010, is just the latest in a series of live-action remakes to hit theaters. Disney is the usual culprit, pumping out remakes of classics such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and more. But it seems that DreamWorks is now ready to get in on the action. The How to Train Your Dragon remake was first announced in February 2023 and since wrapped filming.
Related: What We Know About the Upcoming Frozen Movies
Here’s what we know so far about the new How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake, including who’s been cast to play fan-favorite characters and how closely it will resemble the animated movie.
What is the release date for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake?
How to Train Your Dragon, produced by Universal, will be released on June 13, 2025. The movie has already been filmed and is currently in post-production. It was originally scheduled for March 14, 2025, but production was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Will the live-action movie be different from the animated How to Train Your Dragon?
Fans of How to Train Your Dragon may already know that the movies are based upon a book series by Cressida Cowell, the first of which was published in 2003. And even more dedicated fans know the animated movies didn’t stick too closely to the source material.
However, it’s looking like the live-action remake means to follow the plot of the first animated movie, the story that everyone knows and loves, rather than that of the book. It will center on a boy named Hiccup living on the Isle of Berk. Instead of learning to fight and slay dragons, which is expected of him, Hiccup befriends a dangerous Night Fury dragon and names him Toothless. The plot follows Hiccup and Toothless as they try to stop the fighting between humans and dragons and find a way to live peacefully together.
With that being said, while the backbone of the plot remains the same, fans shouldn’t expect a direct copy of the animated movie.
"I think it’s very much its own thing, but I’d like to think so much of that magic is also prevalent in this one. But I think it’s its own film and it’s its own interpretation and everyone has their own version of a character," Nico Parker, who plays Astrid in the live-action version, told Collider. "It’s important not to get too wrapped up, especially because the animated ones are so brilliant. It’s like, let’s not try and just do a play by play of that. And if anyone wants that, they can watch the animated ones. I think it’ll be wonderful, and if it isn’t, I’m having a wonderful time making it anyway. I’ll think it’s wonderful, no matter what."
Will the original voice actors from How to Train Your Dragon be in the live-action remake?
Only one voice actor from the animated trilogy is returning for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, and that’s Gerard Butler. Butler originally voiced and will again play Stoick the Vast, the brave leader of Berk, a mountain of a man who tries to teach his son, Hiccup, to fight and fear dragons.
Butler, who’s known for action movies like Law Abiding Citizen (2009), 300 (2006) and Olympus Has Fallen (2013), is no doubt the perfect man to play a Viking-inspired character like Stoick. But it makes sense why he’s the only returning cast member. The first How to Train Your Dragon movie came out in 2010, and seeing as Hiccup, Astrid and other main characters are supposed to be teenagers, the very-much-adult voice actors just wouldn’t fit the bill for the live-action cast.
Related: All the New Kids and Family Movies Coming in 2024
Live-action How to Train Your Dragon cast
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Gerard Butler as Stoick
As mentioned, action star and original How to Train Your Dragon cast member Gerard Butler will be reprising his role as Stoick. The hardened village leader disapproves of his son Hiccup, who isn’t motivated to fight or lead. But at his core he’s a loving father who just wants to do right by his son and his people.
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Mason Thames as Hiccup
Thames starred in the recent horror film The Black Phone (2021). At 17 years old, he’s close to the age Hiccup is supposed to be in the first movie, 15, and even has similar, tousled-looking brown hair.
Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movies.
Shane Anthony Sinclair/BAFTA/Getty Images
Nico Parker as Astrid
Parker starred in 2019’s live-action Dumbo and, more recently, acted as Joel’s daughter Sarah in HBO’s The Last of Us. In How to Train Your Dragon, she’ll play Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup’s more-popular peer and eventual love interest.
In the animated film, Astrid was voiced by America Ferrera.
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Nick Frost as Gobber
Frost starred in Hot Fuzz (2007) and Shaun of the Dead (2004). Here, he plays Gobber, Berk’s blacksmith who mentors Hiccup and counsels Stoick in matters that concern the village.
In the original movie, Gobber was voiced by Craig Ferguson.
Additional cast members
There’s a whole crew of supporting characters in How to Train Your Dragon, who, like Hiccup, go on a wild adventure learning how to exist alongside the dragons. Here’s who they’re played by in the live-action:
Julian Dennison plays Fighlegs
Gabriel Howell plays Snotlout
Bronwyn James plays Ruffnut
Harry Trevaldwyn plays Tuffnut
Ruth Codd plays Phlegma
Who is the director of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon?
The director of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is Dean DeBlois, who created the animated film. With him at the helm as director, writer and producer, fans can be assured it will be a faithful adaptation.
DeBlois is also known for his work as co-writer and co-director of Lilo & Stitch (2002).
Aside from DeBlois, the composer of 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon, John Powell, is also returning. This means some of the same iconic music may make it into the new film; although Powell will certainly make changes to better suit a live-action score.
Is there a trailer for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon?
An official trailer has not been released yet for How to Train Your Dragon (2025). The film is in post-production and set to premiere in June 2025, so a trailer will likely come out in the months leading up to the release date.
How to watch the live-action How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon will be out in theaters on June 13, 2025. Since the movie is being distributed by Universal Pictures, it will most likely end up streaming on Peacock. However nothing regarding VOD or streaming has been announced.
Related: We Ranked the 52 Best Animated Movies of All Time, From 'Snow White' to 'Soul'
