(Image Source: Universal Pictures)
The live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" film, a massive hit this summer, not only garnered widespread positive reviews from audiences and critics but also soared past $630 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing "How to Train Your Dragon" movie to date, including all animated installments. Universal Pictures, which financed and distributed the film, had already anticipated its success, scheduling the live-action sequel for release two years in advance of the first film's debut.
(Image Source: Universal Pictures)
However, preparations for the sequel appear to be moving faster than initially expected. Mason Thames, who stars as the live-action Hiccup, recently revealed in an interview with The Direct, "I'm going into production on November 1st."
The biggest question for fans regarding the live-action sequel is whether its plot and cinematography will remain as faithful to the animated version as the first film did. Thames addressed this, stating, "I can't say how similar it's going to be to the animated 'How to Train Your Dragon 2,' but 'How to Train Your Dragon 2' holds a special place in my heart; it's my personal favorite of the animated trilogy. I really love what we've got so far, so it will indeed be very similar."
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Director Dean DeBlois, confirmed to return and helm the live-action sequel, also confirmed this strategy in an interview with Entertainment Weekly (EW) back in June, prior to the first film's release. He explained, "I think Universal saw a huge market value in catering to the underlying nostalgia of audiences who grew up watching these films, while also presenting fresh content for new viewers who might not be familiar with them. So, I believe choosing to continue down this path, trying to innovate at every level of what we do—like deepening the world and character relationships, enhancing the immersion of action sequences—can bring more content without completely overhauling the film. If the first film is well-received, we will continue down this road, making the second film in a similar fashion, telling a story that people feel nostalgic for while also offering surprises."