Over the course of nearly a decade, the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy unfolded a deeply moving coming-of-age tale focused on the unique bond between a boy and his dragon. Now, director Dean DeBlois – who directed all three animated films, co-directing with Chris Sanders on the first – is transitioning to live-action with the story that began it all. Yes, Viking teenager Hiccup and his not-so-frightening dragon companion Toothless are set to take on a whole new dimension as the Isle of Berk comes to life.
As DeBlois explains to Empire, the shift to live-action introduces a different kind of intensity to How To Train Your Dragon; one that is both physically and emotionally amplified. “The stakes are so much higher — having a fully believable, photo-real dragon trying to kill him,” the director says, reflecting on a scene where Hiccup must feign a battle with Toothless to reassure Berk’s dragon-fearing inhabitants. While the excitement largely stems from seeing how the lovable Toothless is brought to life in this new format, there’s also the matter of Hiccup – the boy who challenges tradition and ultimately proves to his people that dragons aren’t the adversaries they once thought.
Enter Mason Thames, best known for his leading role in The Black Phone. Given that the character “embodies all the misfits out there, and there are many of us,” according to DeBlois, Thames seemed an ideal choice to portray the young human hero of Dragon. “There was a touch of awkwardness, but also a vulnerability that came naturally due to his age, 15, when we auditioned him,” the director notes. Prepare for an adaptation that breathes new life into Hiccup and Toothless… quite literally.
Read more about How To Train Your Dragon in Empire’s Ultimate 2025 Preview, featuring Andor Season 2 – available in the January 2025 issue. Pre-order your copy online here. How To Train Your Dragon hits UK cinemas in June.
Source link: https://www.empireonline.com
