How to train your dragonThe upcoming live-action remake of appears to be following in the footsteps of Lord of the Ringswhich could be key to elevating the future of the franchise in live-action. With launch scheduled for 2025, How to train your dragons appears to be a faithful recreation of the modern animated classic, especially given the footage that has been released so far. This wasn't necessarily a guaranteed deal, given the mixed reception that live-action animated film remakes have met in recent years.
In fact, the trailer's focus on the big emotional plot of the original films suggests that How to train your dragon is indeed working to replicate the energy that elevated the original beyond other fantasies. It was the kind of approach that made Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings trilogy so good because it worked to capture the authentic spirit of JRR Tolkien's original novels. If the film delivers on that promise, then the live action How to train your dragon could become the modern successor to the Lord of the Rings'adaptation success.
How to Train Your Dragon Captures the Spirit of the Original
The trailer for How to train your dragon Seeks to capture the spirit of the original animated film
How to train your dragon seems to get the spirit of the original films rightthat could follow the example set by Lord of the Rings in adapting a fantasy epic. The teaser for the next live-action How to train your dragon is an exciting update to the franchise, bringing the story of the first film to life for a new generation. The images featured in the teaser indicate that the film does a good job of recreating the sense of wonder and danger of Berk while also adjusting to the sensibilities of live-action adventure stories in the modern era.
Getting the tone of the source material right is an important attribute of any fantasy adaptation, as seen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. These films fully embraced the adventure, tragedy, and great romantic elements of the original texts, while also leaning on elements that worked better in live-action than in prose, like Tom Bombadil. At the center of both stories is the emotional bond between the heroeslike the friendship between Frodo and Sam or the empathy Hiccup finds with Toothless. It's clear from the teaser that this was the focus of the live-action film, which is a crucial discovery.
The Lord of the Rings proves how important authenticity is in fantasy adaptations
How to train your dragons Need to replicate a key element of Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings the trilogy was successful in many ways, with one of the most impressive elements of the film trilogy being the way it unapologetically embraced the emotional highs and lows of the original story. Peter Jackson's trilogy committed to these themes, authentically recreating the emotional throughline of the fantasy epic. These elements, more than the massive battles and sweeping landscapes, make the films enduringly compelling more than two decades after their release. The authentic recreation of the source material's central themes elevated the trilogyand may be the key to How to train your dragonthe future.
How to train your dragon has a lot of story to play with and could set the stage for a big adventure thanks to the world established in the three animated films that serve as its source material. The core of these films was Hiccup and Toothless's emotional arc. By making the connection between Hiccup and Toothless clear in the trailer, IIt is clear that the film recognizes the importance of these emotional threads. If the completed film can replicate these elements completely, then How to train your dragon could actually become a modern successor to the Lord of the Rings.
How to Train Your Dragon, set on the Viking island of Berk, follows Hiccup, a young Viking who defies tradition by befriending a Night Fury dragon named Toothless. Their bond reveals new insights into dragons and transforms Viking society's understanding of these creatures.
- Release date
-
June 13, 2025
- Cast
-
Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd
- Director
-
Dean DeBlois
- Studio(s)
-
DreamWorks Images