There's a huge amount of excitement surrounding plans to bring DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon franchise into a live-action setting, and we may now have a clearer idea of what the cast will look like.
According to insider Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com), there are three actors currently in talks to join the project, with Shazam! Fury of the Gods and IT star Jack Dylan Grazer eyed for the lead role of Hiccup Haddock. He stole the show in the recent Shazam! sequel and would be a fantastic choice to bring the unlikely hero to life on screen.
It's also said that Moana lead Auli'i Cravalho is in final talks to play Astrid Hofferson, a warrior and Hiccup's love interest, while Joel Edgerton is expected to star as the lead's father, Stoic the Vast.
In the animated franchise, Jay Baruchel played Hiccup, with America Ferrera as Astrid and Gerard Butler as Stoic.
It's previously been reported that Lilo & Stitch creator Dean DeBlois (who wrote and directed the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy) will also take charge of this live-action remake.
We'll have to wait and see whether any of this pans out, but we'd say this is a great start to casting the movie. With any luck, there will be room for at least some of the original cast members in cameo or supporting roles, though you can also understand why Universal is planning a fresh start for a new fantasy franchise that could be huge for them moving forward.
In How to Train Your Dragon, Hiccup, a young Viking who dreams of being a brave dragon killer, strikes up an unlikely friendship with one of the flying beasts after wounding it in battle. Together, Hiccup and his new friend-whom he dubs Toothless-must unite their cultures in a fight against a giant evil dragon known as the Red Death.
How to Train Your Dragon is set to be released in theaters on March 14, 2025.