DreamWorks' upcomingHow to Train Your Dragonlive-action remake had several big creative decisions when adapting the 2010 animated movie, and it thankfully avoided a big pitfall that came very close to derailing a similar project. The film will be the first franchise installment not to be set within the same continuity as all the otherHow to Train Your Dragonmovies and TV shows. Interestingly, the trailer makes the project look like a shot-for-shot remake of the original, so it could still be argued to be canon when viewed from a certain point of view.
Regardless, 2025’s remake has at least managed to perfectly adapt at least one element of the initial franchise starter from 15 years earlier. Thelive-actionHow to Train Your Dragoncastrecalls Gerard Butler to the role of Stoick the Vast and introduces Mason Thames as Hiccup, replacing Jay Baruchel - who has voiced the character since day one. WithHow to Train Your Dragonset for a 2025 release dateof June 13, fans won’t be waiting long to see how it compares to the original movie. Fortunately, the trailer has quickly put to bed one of the biggest concerns.
How To Train Your Dragon Has Avoided Making Sonic The Hedgehog’s Mistake
Paramount initially tried too hard to make Sonic look realistic
Toothless' character design is one of theDragonsfranchise’s biggest appeals. Although mostly a traditional dragon, the cartoonish addition of cat-like features of mannerisms gives him a unique look and feel. The reveal of “live-action” Toothless proves that DreamWorks has learned a lesson from 2020’sSonic the Hedgehogmovie, and left the dragon’s signature aesthetic unchanged. Instead, he’s simply been given a slightly more realistic exterior, such as more visible scales than in the original film. Inversely,Paramount tried far too hard to overhaul Sonic’s design, and it was met with unanimous uproar.
In retrospect, Paramount’s original live-action Sonic looks equal parts hilarious and terrifying. At the time, there were many fans genuinely confused and shocked when it came to how the character was set to look in his live-action debut. Thankfully,Paramount quickly folded to the backlash and made Sonic far more recognizableas the character from the video games. According toIndie Wire, the redesign costs were somewhere in the area of $5 million. Luckily, the movie was a massive hit and started a live-actionSonicfranchise. DreamWorks has managed to avoid this mistake by staying true to the original Toothless.
Getting Toothless Right Was Make-Or-Break For How To Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Movie
Toothless needed to be easily recognizable
It would have been understandable if DreamWorks had opted to move on completely from the original Toothless design, as, alongside the live-action actors, it was always possible he would have looked a little weird. If he had been completely reworked to look like a more traditional dragon, or too life-like,DreamWorks would likely have suffered the same backlash as Paramount did for Sonic. If DreamWorks had got it wrong, the already-questionable decision to remakeHow to Train Your Dragonso soon would have been thrust even further into the limelight.
How to Train Your Dragon
Cast
How to Train Your Dragon, released in 2025, depicts the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who defies tradition on the isle of Berk by befriending Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their friendship uncovers the true nature of dragons, challenging entrenched Viking perceptions and societal norms.
