Two young Vikings prepare to face the fury of their ancient foes, as Mason Thames’ Hiccup and Nico Parker’s Astrid hide together in Berk’s training arena in a new image from How To Train Your Dragon’s live-action remake. The 2025 movie brings the world of Dreamworks’ beloved 2010 animated fantasy to life, as a Viking outcast strikes a friendship with a wounded and elusive dragon. Alongside Thames and Parker, the live-action How To Train Your Dragon adaptation also stars Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, and Ruth Coff, with Gerard Butler reprising the role of Stoic.
As part of its 2025 movie preview, USA Today has released a new still from How To Train Your Dragon. The image features Hiccup and Astrid armored and armed as they take part in the training every youth of Berk goes through to prepare them for their battles with dragons. The pair are hiding behind a barrier, with Hiccup noticeably out of his depth and nervous while Astrid is more battle-ready and trying to help her fellow student, holding his shoulder while likely offering some begrudging advice to the unready hero.

Why Dragon Training Will Be Important To The Live Action How To Train Your Dragon

The Location Can Provide A Perfect Showcase Of Its Dragon VFX

For those familiar with the original How To Train Your Dragon, the training arena is one of the most important locations in the story. While Hiccup is pushed into dragon-slaying training despite his protests after bonding with the injured Night Fury Toothless, he puts his studies into how dragons live to work, impressing both Gobber (Frost) and his fellow students with his mastery over the creatures, while Astrid becomes intrigued, following him to discover his secrets.

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Within the live-action movie, the scenes set within the arena will not only be important to the plot, but serve as a showcase of the movie’s VFX. Alongside various modules including mazes, the arena is also home to a selection of captured dragons. With the students fighting in the daylight against different species, the sequence will likely be the audience’s best opportunity to see the realization of the animated dragons.
Our Thoughts On How To Train Your Dragon’s Dragon Training Preview

The Original Movie’s Creatures Have Distinct Looks That May Be Hard To Capture

While it may be Dreamworks’s first live-action adaptation, How To Train You Dragon must overcome common criticisms that other live-action adaptations of beloved animated movies are subject to. One area is how it realizes its animated creatures, and with audiences having only seen Toothless up close so far, many are curious to see how species such as the Gronckle and Monstrous Nightmare translate into a realistic aesthetic.

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Though the preview image may be focused on the two young heroes, the context of the scene is sure to leave both excited viewers and curious fans eager to see more. While How To Train Your Dragon may be focused on Hiccup and Toothless’s bond, the original movie’s unique selection of dragons helped it stand out among other fantasy tales, meaning their live-action reimaginings are sure to be a major topic of discussion once first images of them land.
Source: USA Today

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How to Train Your Dragon, set on the Viking island of Berk, follows Hiccup, a young Viking who challenges tradition by befriending a Night Fury dragon named Toothless. Their bond reveals new insights about dragons and transforms Viking society’s understanding of these creatures.

Release Date

June 13, 2025

Cast

Mason Thames
, Nico Parker
, Gerard Butler
, Nick Frost
, Julian Dennison
, Gabriel Howell
, Bronwyn James
, Harry Trevaldwyn
, Ruth Codd

Character(s)

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
, Astrid Hofferson
, Stoick the Vast
, Gobber the Belch
, Fishlegs Ingerman
, Snoutlout Jorgenson
, Ruffnut Thorston
, Tuffnut Thorston
, Phlegma

Director

Dean DeBlois

Writers

Dean DeBlois

Studio(s)

DreamWorks Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

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