Outline:
New Cast Members Join the Live-Action "How to Train Your Dragon 2"
The live-action sequel to How to Train Your Dragon is gaining more attention as it prepares for its release on June 11, 2027. This announcement came during Cinema Con in April 2025, just two months before the first live-action film premiered in theaters. The sequel, which is also a remake of the original animated film, has already generated excitement among fans.
One of the most notable additions to the cast is Cate Blanchett, who will reprise her role as Valka. In the original animated film from 2014, she voiced the character, who was revealed to be Hiccup’s long-lost and presumed-dead mother. Valka plays a crucial role in the story, rescuing dragons and helping Hiccup on his journey. This makes Blanchett the second actor from the original franchise to return for the live-action version, following Gerard Butler, who reprised his role as Stoic after originally voicing the character in the animated trilogy.
A Star-Studded Cast
Cate Blanchett is a highly acclaimed actress with an impressive career spanning multiple genres. She has been nominated for an Academy Award eight times and has won twice for her roles in The Aviator and Blue Jasmine. Some of her other notable films include Tár, Thor: Ragnarok, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Carol, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Her recent projects include Black Bag by Steven Soderbergh and Father Mother Sister Brother by Jim Jarmusch.
Blanchett joins a talented ensemble cast that includes Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn. Director Dean DeBois, who previously directed both the live-action How to Train Your Dragon and the original animated How to Train Your Dragon 2, returns for the sequel, ensuring continuity in the storytelling.
A Successful Franchise
The original How to Train Your Dragon 2 was released in 2014 and received critical acclaim, with many viewers considering it superior to the first film. It went on to earn $622 million worldwide and was nominated for Best Animated Film at the 87th Academy Awards. The film also won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature.
The live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon premiered in 2025, exactly fifteen years after the original. It earned $262 million domestically and currently ranks among the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2025. Globally, it made $636 million, securing the eighth position on the worldwide box office chart for 2025. Universal Pictures is pleased with the performance and is likely to proceed with a remake of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World to conclude the live-action trilogy.
Audience Reception and Industry Trends
Despite concerns about the need for more live-action remakes of animated films, this new version of DreamWorks’ hit managed to achieve a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This is six percentage points higher than the original, suggesting that some movies can satisfy fans if they stay true to the source material without making drastic changes. While some may argue that this trend reflects a lack of creativity in Hollywood, the success of the film indicates there is a strong demand for such projects.
Studios are eager to meet this demand, as evidenced by the continued investment in live-action remakes. With the right approach, these adaptations can resonate with audiences and deliver both critical and commercial success. As the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 approaches its release date, fans are eagerly anticipating what the sequel will bring to the beloved franchise.