It seems Universal/DreamWorks have decided to take a page out of Disney's play-book by adapting a much-loved animated property for live-action.
According to THR, Universal Pictures is developing a How To Train Your Dragon live-action movie, with Dean DeBlois, who helmed the original animated trilogy - 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon, 2014’s How to Train Your Dragon 2 and 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - on board as writer, director and producer.
Though we're just hearing about this now, the project is several steps into the development process, as a release date of March 14, 2025 has already been set. Casting is said to be currently underway.
Marc Platt, a best picture nominee for La La Land, Bridge of Spies and Trial Of The Chicago 7, will produce via his Universal-based company Marc Platt Productions alongside Adam Siegel, president of Marc Platt Productions.
Based on the novels by Cressida Cowell, the animated films focused on a young Viking boy named Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and the friendship he develops with an injured dragon named Toothless who he nurses back to health in a world where the fire-breathing beasts are not exactly well-regarded.
This movie will be based on the first animated film, and if successful, the other instalments will be adapted - and with a loyal built-in fanbase, we've no reason to think it won't be.
Together, the three How To Train Your Dragon movies have amassed more than $1.6 billion, secured four Academy Award nominations, and a Golden Globe Award for the second chapter.
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