Universal isn’t waiting around to see how audiences react to the upcoming live-action reboot of How To Train Your Dragon.
In a bold move, the studio has officially greenlit How To Train Your Dragon 2 – and the first remake hasn’t even premiered yet.
The announcement came from Gerard Butler during CinemaCon, where he revealed the sequel will soar into theaters on June 11, 2027. Butler, who reprises his role as Stoick the Vast from the original animated trilogy, spoke passionately about the live-action adaptation, calling it a powerful and immersive reimagining of the beloved franchise.
Director Dean DeBois will return to helm the sequel, continuing his long-standing creative leadership from the animated trilogy and this year’s live-action reboot, which is slated for release on June 13, 2025. DeBois’ continued involvement signals a consistent vision as the story expands across multiple films.
Mason Thames (Hiccup) and Nico Parker (Astrid) are confirmed to return for the second installment, solidifying the franchise’s continuity with a fresh but familiar cast.
Based on the beloved book series by Cressida Cowell, the How To Train Your Dragon universe follows the story of a young Viking boy, Hiccup, who befriends a rare dragon named Toothless. The live-action version promises a darker, more intense tone while preserving the emotional depth and charm that made the original trilogy a fan favorite.
“We are so excited to give your theaters a big summer title in two years’ time,” Butler told the CinemaCon crowd.
In a recent interview, Butler teased the emotional and visual impact of the live-action film. “I just saw a rough cut,” he said. “It was so amazing and so powerful… your jaw just drops.” He emphasized how the use of real actors and photo-realistic dragons makes the story more visceral and emotionally grounded.
“The best way for me to describe it is, I made three of those movies over many years, and I always wondered… ‘What if we were really there? Real people, real dragons?'” Butler said. “And we had a chance to do that, to make it real.”
The decision to greenlight a sequel before the first film’s release suggests Universal has immense confidence in the project’s creative direction and commercial potential. It’s also a clear indication that the studio sees How To Train Your Dragon as a cornerstone franchise for years to come.
With its blend of myth, heart, and now high-stakes realism, the How To Train Your Dragon live-action universe is gearing up to become a major cinematic event. Whether longtime fans or newcomers, audiences are in for a thrilling ride through Berk like they’ve never seen it before.
