The beloved tale of a young Viking and his dragon friend is getting a live-action makeover as Universal Pictures releases the first teaser trailer for “How To Train Your Dragon,” set to soar into theaters on June 13, 2025.
The minute-long teaser showcases Mason Thames as Hiccup, alongside a photorealistic version of the beloved Night Fury dragon, Toothless. Gerard Butler makes his return as Chief Stoick, while Nico Parker joins as Astrid and Nick Frost as Gobber.
The film follows the original story's premise: on the isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons are sworn enemies, Hiccup defies tradition by befriending Toothless, challenging societal norms and revealing dragons' true nature . Director Dean DeBlois, who helmed the original animated trilogy, returns to direct this live-action adaptation, ensuring continuity with the beloved franchise.
The trailer particularly emphasizes the film's impressive visual effects, with Toothless maintaining his iconic design while gaining additional realistic details. The footage showcases familiar locations from the animated version, including Berk's dramatic landscapes and forests, now rendered in stunning live-action detail .
DeBlois notes that this version offers heightened stakes, telling Empire, “It's so dialed up in terms of stakes — having a fully credible, photo-real dragon stomping around trying to kill him” .
The film's production team includes Marc Platt (Wicked) and Adam Siegel (Drive) as producers alongside DeBlois . The original animated trilogy was highly successful, with each film earning Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature .
The cast is rounded out by Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Murray McArthur . The film will be presented in IMAX, promising a truly immersive experience of this fantasy adventure .
Would you like to share your thoughts on how the live-action adaptation appears to be honoring the beloved animated original while bringing its own unique vision?
