Why The New 'How To Train Your Dragon' Remake Is More Than Just Nostalgia Fuel!

This Summer, the beloved world of How To Train Your Dragon is set to take flight once again with the original writer/director Dean DeBlois back behind the reins! Filmed for IMAX and scheduled for release on June 13, our heroes Hiccup and Toothless will soar once more onto the big screen!

While the original film was outstanding and sparked a slew of successful sequels, few realize that the intended vision for the movie was far beyond the available technological scope at that time. According to DeBlois, he initially envisioned a much grander live-action movie, but when he joined the original project, they “only had 15 months before it had to be at the cinemas. It was a rush to the finish, and as much as we wanted to embrace the live-action sensibilities of it, we also were just panicking because we were running out of money and time.” He describes this revisitation to the world of dragons as “an opportunity that allows us to go back in and give it all the live-action love that we had wanted.”

And DeBlois isn’t the only original member of the team who will be reprising their role. Gerard Butler, the original voice actor of Stoick The Vast, Chief of the Vikings, is back to embody the role he once gave voice to. He said in an interview, “I’d always wondered, seeing the animated version, what would it be like to actually be that size, be that character,” and lucky for us, he’s been given that very opportunity! While the hefty boots of Stoick are massive to fill, they seem to fit Gerard perfectly like Cinderella’s glass slippers.

In Hollywood, nostalgia is a powerful currency, often driving ticket sales. But sometimes, evolving technology and techniques provide a compelling reason to revisit beloved stories. While the new 2025 How To Train Your Dragon movie appears to be a shot-for-shot remake, nostalgia alone doesn’t seem to be the driving force behind the reboot. Hearing from DeBlois, his thought process behind diving back into this marvelous world is reminiscent of George Lucas and his numerous tweaks to Star Wars. Lucas describes the two major barriers when making a film as “Resources and Technology,” and it’s clear that both played a factor in the original release. Now, with greater resources and technology at his fingertips, DeBlois sets out to crystallize his initial vision in all its IMAX splendor.

One of the greatest dangers involved in updating a classic can be the subtlest of tweaks. Changes, even small ones, can redefine a character. Just ask Star Wars fans about Han and Greedo, a digression for another time (Han shot first!). The same principle applies here. Hiccup and his friends have an established place in the hearts of the audience, and it’s important to tread lightly with alterations that could radically change their relationships with one another. That said, DeBlois is just as passionate, if not more so, about the world and these cherished characters than all of us and had a major hand in shaping the original film. If anyone is qualified to take on this remake, it’s him!

As we await the new film’s release, the question remains: will this live-action reimagining soar to new heights, or will it struggle to recapture the heart and soul of the original? With DeBlois leading the charge, there’s good reason to hope that this isn’t just another nostalgia-fueled remake but rather the fullest realization of a vision years in the making. One thing’s for sure — whether through animation or live-action, the bond between a boy and his dragon remains timeless.