It feels like only yesterday that every commercial break during a late-season NBA game would have a trailer for the original How to Train Your Dragon, abbreviated by the overly-excited announcer as “DREAMWORKS’ DRAGONS IN THREE-DEE” to fit the 30-second ad-spot (it’s Head-On for a generation of drunk college kids). Now, 15 years later, Universal’s put some serious cash into bringing the charming world of that little film to live-action cinema, and the studio dropped the first teaser for the project on Wednesday, within an hour of Lionsgate releasing their own Gerard Butler-led tentpole. Coincidence? We think not.
Take a look:
Here’s a long synopsis for a live-action adaptation of a relatively recent release:
“From three-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; ‘The Black Phone,’ ‘For All Mankind’) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; ‘Dumbo,’ ‘The Last of Us’) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; ‘Snow White and the Huntsman,’ ‘Shaun of the Dead’) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding. As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.”
How to Train Your Dragon hits theaters on June 13.