How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake Release Delayed

How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake Release Delayed Due To Actors Strike (But Not By Much)

With the actors strike having already surpassed 113 days, Universal has officially delayed the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake's release date. The movie marks the second major adaptation of Cressida Cowell's iconic children's book series following DreamWorks' animated trilogy of movies and TV shows. Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and co-directed the original movie and wrote and directed the two follow-ups himself, will return as the writer and director of the live-action remake with The Black Phone's Mason Thames and The Last of Us' Nico Parker leading the cast.

Deadline has brought word that Universal is shifting How To Train Your Dragon's live-action remake release date by a full year. The movie, which was originally set for a March 14, 2025 release date, has now been slotted into the June 13 release date the studio had held for an untitled project. In its new release date, the live-action movie is currently competing against an untitled Pixar title.

How To Train Your Dragon's New Release Date Could Be Trouble

Though most movies could benefit from extra time in development to ensure they meet the creative ambitions of their filmmakers, How To Train Your Dragon's new release date could prove troublesome for the live-action remake. Pixar is generally a powerhouse competitor at the box office, which the original trilogy avoided at every turn as it released alongside some big name titles like 22 Jump Street and Alita: Battle Angel, but still generally coming out on top and with successful hauls.

It could also be argued that Pixar's recent struggles at the box office could prove somewhat beneficial for the live-action. The studio's last hit was 2019's Toy Story 4, which brought in a massive $1.07 billion at the box office, while subsequent releases Onward, Soul and Lightyear have all suffered from the lowest returns in the company's history, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and initial shift to Disney+ releases making it difficult to convince families to head back to the theaters. This year's Elemental did see a rough start similar to its predecessors, though gained steam in international markets, culminating in a modest $494 million haul against its $200 million production budget.

Even if the untitled Pixar project doesn't prove enticing for audiences, the other major hurdle the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake faces is the general audience interest in the project. Fans of the original trilogy largely felt satisfied with how The Hidden World brought it to a close, going on to express skepticism for a new adaptation to be made without the original cast involved. However, with DeBlois still on board as writer and director, one can hope that he finds a way to deliver a fresh take on the property that can satisfy original viewers as well as newcomers to the franchise.

The much-anticipated live-action adaptation of "How To Train Your Dragon" is scheduled to hit cinemas on June 13, 2025.