The live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon” has found its young human leads – both of whom have reportedly been cast with an eye for potential sequels letting them grow up with their roles.
Mason Thames, who played the lead role as a kidnapped kid in “The Black Phone”, has been cast as Hiccup – the role Jay Baruchel played in the original.
Meanwhile Nico Parker, who had a small but memorable role as the daughter of Joel (Pedro Pascal) in HBO’s “The Last of Us,” will play Astrid in the film – taking over the part America Ferrera had in the original.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the original animated trilogy that ran from 2010-2019, is returning to write, produce and direct this new take which would mark the first Dreamworks animated feature to make the jump to live-action form.
The original ‘Dragon’ film takes place in the mythical Viking village of Berk and follows the adventures of a misfit teen named Hiccup who befriends an injured dragon he calls Toothless. He soon discovers there may be more to the creatures than he or his family assumed.
Based on the books by Cressida Cowell, the original trilogy generated more than $1.6 billion worldwide at the box-office and spawned three spin-off TV series along with theme park rides and a live show.
Marc Platt (“Bridge of Spies”) will produce the new film which Universal has dated for a March 14th 2025 release. Filming will begin this Summer.
Source: THR
