Even before its live-action debut hits theaters this summer, Universal is already doubling down on How to Train Your Dragon – with a sequel officially on the way and a release date locked in.
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon hasn’t even landed in cinemas yet, but Universal is already looking ahead. At this year’s CinemaCon, director Dean DeBlois confirmed what fans were quietly hoping: the studio has officially greenlit a sequel.
That’s not just a vague promise – it’s a clear signal that the studio is confident in what they’ve seen so far. To mark the announcement, Universal brought out a 43-piece orchestra conducted by Ricky Minor, performing selections from the score. Not your everyday sequel reveal. Even better, there’s already a date attached – How to Train Your Dragon 2 is set to release on June 11, 2027.
Early Reactions Suggest A Faithful – And Bigger – Take On The Original
So, what’s giving Universal this early boost of confidence? According to first press reactions at CinemaCon, the live-action version is being described as a faithful and emotionally grounded reimagining of the original animated film. Not just a retread – something that brings the familiar story into sharper, more immediate focus.
Dean DeBlois, who directed all three animated films, is once again in charge – writing, producing, and directing this new version. The cast includes Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, and Nick Frost as Gobber. Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick in the original trilogy, returns – this time in full costume, stepping directly into the role.
Butler has been open about his excitement to revisit the franchise in a more tangible way. In an interview with The Direct, he admitted he’d always wondered how the story would play out in live-action:
“I love the animated movies, but I always wondered, ‘God, what if this was real? What if we were really there, real people, real dragons?’ And we had a chance to do that, to make it real. When a dragon is breathing fire over a bunch of actual Viking men and women running, it feels a lot more scary than when it was animated. You have a little more you can distance yourself, but this feels much more involved and just immersive. I get goosebumps when I think about it.”
A New Format For A Beloved Story
The original trilogy, based on the books by Cressida Cowell, earned both critical acclaim and over $1.6 billion at the box office. Now, the story is being retold in live-action – a new visual style, but the same emotional core.
Universal describes the film as a “stunning live-action reimagining” that returns to the island of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have long been enemies. In this world, young Hiccup – an inventive and awkward outsider – challenges that legacy by befriending Toothless, a Night Fury dragon feared by all.
That friendship, as before, becomes the heart of the story. As tensions rise and a new threat surfaces, Hiccup and Toothless are forced to carve a new path forward – one that could change both their worlds for good.