A Legendary World Reborn

The beloved world of How to Train Your Dragon spreads its wings once more—this time in a stunning live-action adaptation that reimagines the heart, magic, and emotional depth of the original. For Cressida Cowell, author of the bestselling book series, the transition from page to animation to live-action has been nothing short of enchanting.

“Walking through the village of Berk or into the blacksmith’s forge was like stepping into a dream,” Cowell says. “The attention to detail—the wear on the tools, the weathered wood of the buildings—made everything feel alive. It was extraordinary.”

Dean DeBlois Returns to Berk

At the helm once more is visionary filmmaker Dean DeBlois, who directed the original DreamWorks animated trilogy. This time, he’s crafting the saga in a breathtakingly real way.

“I decided to revisit How to Train Your Dragon because it presented a remarkable opportunity—not only to direct a live-action film, but to return to a world I’ve genuinely missed,” DeBlois says. “These characters and this universe have stayed with me, and now we can bring them back with such authenticity and conviction that, when audiences enter this world, they’ll never want to leave.”

Set on the rugged Isle of Berk, the film follows Hiccup, a young Viking whose world is turned upside down when he forms an unlikely bond with Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Together, they challenge centuries of Viking tradition in a story filled with bravery, wonder, and transformation.

Watch the “Bringing Berk to Life” Featurette:

A Heartfelt Bond That Defies Time

With the live-action format, the emotional gravity of Hiccup and Toothless’s friendship takes center stage in a powerful, grounded way. Realism was key, especially when it came to bringing dragons to life.

“The key is grounding the dragons in familiar animal behaviors,” DeBlois says. “By drawing inspiration from cats, dogs, horses and other animals, we’ve created creatures that feel authentic even though they’re fantasy creatures. Each dragon has a unique personality, and they live within a real, grounded world. Our goal was to make audiences believe in dragons as completely as they believed in the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park.”

Each dragon, meticulously designed, bursts with personality—thanks to creature behaviors rooted in real-world zoology. The result? A fantastical realm that feels uncannily real.

New Faces, Same Magic

The live-action film stars Mason Thames (The Black Phone) as Hiccup and Gerard Butler, who reprises his role as Chief Stoick the Vast. The ensemble also includes Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Murray McArthur.

With cutting-edge VFX, sweeping visuals, and soul-stirring storytelling, the movie promises a fresh take on a modern classic—while honoring the themes that fans cherish most.

Rediscover the Magic

“My hope is that audiences who loved these characters in animation will discover them all over again, both with familiar warmth and surprising new depth,” DeBlois says. “We approached this adaptation with profound respect for what came before, while daring to imagine what could be. It’s a story that captures the magic of flying, the courage to question what we’re taught and the wonder of discovering something extraordinary within yourself. That’s what How to Train Your Dragon has always been about—and what this film delivers in a way audiences have never seen before.”

Take flight as How to Train Your Dragon lands in Philippine cinemas on June 11.

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