How to Train Your Dragon takes a leap into reality and promises more thrills and risks
In the vast universe of cinema, few stories have captured reality so well the essence of friendship and adventure like the trilogy How to train your dragon. Over the course of nearly a decade, this series has woven a exciting story of personal growth through the special bond between a young Viking and his dragon. Now, Dean DeBlois, the mastermind behind the three animated episodes, makes a bold leap into live-actionrevitalizing the original story that captivated millions.
Hiccup and Toothless come to life
On the fictional, myth-filled island of Berk, Hiccup and his harmless dragon friend, Toothless, are ready to be explored in a whole new way. As shared DeBlois with Empirethis move to live action not only transforms the look of Berk and its inhabitantsBut intensifies the emotional and physical load of the narrative. “The stakes are much higher with a completely believable, photorealistic dragon wandering menacingly,” says the director, referring to a key scene in which Hiccup has to fake a fight with Toothless to protect his people, naturally afraid of dragons.
This new approach not only promises to it added intensity, but also poses exciting challenges for the cast, particularly Mason Thamesknown for his starring role in The black phone. Thames, who plays the young hero Hiccup, was chosen for his ability they represent the uniqueness of the character. “He represents all the weirdos out there, and there are a lot of us,” DeBlois says. At just 15 years old during the auditions, Thames brought a mix of awkwardness and vulnerability that deeply enriched her performance.
Much more than a simple remake
What makes this release particularly intriguing is how it will find the balance between respecting the source material and offering something new and vibrant. Fans are eager to see how Toothless, adored for his almost implausible charm, comes to life in this adaptation, which, DeBlois promises, will give Hiccup and his dragon… well, more teeth. Furthermore, the integration of cutting-edge technology promises more intense action sequences and unprecedented visual immersion.
This June, UK cinema screens will light up with this promising adaptation of How to train your dragonwho will no doubt try to leave his mark both old admirers and new viewers. In the meantime, further details on the matter cinematic transformation can be found in the definitive 2025 preview of Empirefocused on the second season of Andoravailable in the January issue.
A visual and narrative evolution
In addition to expectations for the visual transformation of Toothless and sobbingthis move to live action represents a opportunity to go deeper into the roots from the Norse mythology that inspired the original series. The live-action narrative will allow us to explore in more detail Viking traditions and his relationship with dragonselements that could only be outlined in the animation. This adaptation not only seeks to entertain, but also to enrich the historical and cultural context of Berk and its people.
The challenge of adapting a beloved animated series to live-action includes balancing faithfulness to the source material with visual and dramatic innovation. Compared to other successful adaptations, such as Beauty and the Beast, How to train your dragon faces the challenge of maintaining the emotional and epic essence introducing new dimensions of realism and spectacle. This adaptation has the potential to mark a before and after in how animated stories are brought to the big screen.