Delays Strike the Release of Live-Action Remake of 'How to Train Your Dragon', but Only Slightly

Article Overview

Universal delays release of How To Train Your Dragon's live-action remake due to the ongoing actors strike, pushing it to a new release date.

The film's original release date of March 14, 2025 has been changed to June 13, 2025, coinciding with the release of an upcoming untitled Pixar film. This adaptation builds upon the earlier success of DreamWorks' animated trilogy and television series, which were inspired by Cressida Cowell's popular children's book series.

Universal has officially postponed the release date of the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake due to the ongoing actors strike. This adaptation follows DreamWorks' animated trilogy and TV shows based on Cressida Cowell's beloved children's book series. Dean DeBlois, the original movie's co-writer and co-director, will return as the writer and director for the live-action version, with Mason Thames from The Black Phone and Nico Parker from The Last of Us leading the cast.

According to Deadline, Universal has pushed back the release date of the live-action remake by a full year. Originally planned for March 14, 2025, the movie will now premiere on June 13, the same date reserved for an untitled project by the studio. In its new slot, the release of the live-action film will coincide with an undisclosed Pixar title.

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

While most movies would benefit from additional development time to align with the creative vision of the filmmakers, the new release date for How To Train Your Dragon could pose challenges for the live-action remake. Despite facing strong competition from big-name titles like 22 Jump Street and Alita: Battle Angel, the original trilogy managed to achieve success and outperform other films at the box office.

An argument can be made that the recent struggles of Pixar at the box office could actually work in favor of the live-action remake. Toy Story 4, released in 2019, was the studio's last major hit, generating an impressive $1.07 billion in box office revenue. However, subsequent releases such as Onward, Soul, and Lightyear experienced historically low returns, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the initial shift to Disney+ releases, which made it challenging to attract families back to theaters.

Although Elemental, released this year, had a similar slow start like its predecessors, it gained momentum in international markets and ultimately earned a modest $494 million against its $200 million production budget.

Despite the possibility that the unnamed Pixar project may not attract much interest from audiences, the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon encounters a significant obstacle in terms of general audience appeal. Many fans of the original trilogy felt content with the conclusion presented in The Hidden World and expressed doubt regarding a new adaptation that lacks the involvement of the original cast. Nevertheless, with DeBlois remaining as writer and director, there is optimism that he will discover a means to provide a unique perspective on the story that can please both loyal viewers and those new to the franchise.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up watching the How To Train Your Dragon animated trilogy and TV shows, so the news of a live-action remake has me excited. However, I'm concerned about the delay in its release. The original release date of March 2025 was already a long wait, and now it's been pushed back to June 2025. I understand that the ongoing actors strike is a factor, but I can't help but feel disappointed.

I'm also worried about the potential impact of the delay on the film's box office performance. The original trilogy was a huge success, grossing over $1.6 billion worldwide. But with the delay, the live-action remake will now be competing with other big-name titles like 22 Jump Street and Alita: Battle Angel. I'm not sure if it will be able to hold its own against such stiff competition.

On the other hand, the delay could also give the filmmakers more time to work on the film and make it even better. I'm hoping that they'll use this extra time to fine-tune the script, develop the characters, and create stunning visuals. If they can do that, then I think the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon could be a huge hit.