For How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell, seeing her beloved book series brought to life in a live-action adaptation was a dream realized. “Walking through the village of Berk or into the blacksmith’s forge felt like stepping into a dream,” Cowell shares. “The level of detail, from the worn tools to the weathered wooden buildings, made everything feel alive. It was extraordinary.”
At the helm once again is original trilogy director Dean DeBlois, now reimagining the world of Hiccup and Toothless in stunning live-action. “Returning to How to Train Your Dragon was an irresistible opportunity,” DeBlois says. “This world and these characters have never left me. Now, we get to bring them back with such authenticity that audiences will truly feel they’ve entered Berk.”
Set in a world where Vikings and dragons have long been enemies, the film follows Hiccup, a young Viking who forms a groundbreaking bond with a mysterious Night Fury named Toothless. Their friendship challenges age-old beliefs and may be the key to saving their island from a dangerous threat.
Bringing this epic to life meant balancing realism with fantasy. “The heart of this story has always been the connection between humans and dragons,” DeBlois explains. “To make them feel real, we drew from animal behavior such as cats, dogs, and horses, so that even the most fantastical creatures feel believable. Each dragon has a personality, and they all live in a grounded, tangible world.”
What makes How to Train Your Dragon special remains at the center of this adaptation: heart, courage, and wonder. “We approached this film with deep respect for the original, but also with a sense of discovery,” DeBlois adds. “It’s about finding the magic of flight, the bravery to challenge the rules, and the joy of discovering your own strength. That spirit has always been at the core of How to Train Your Dragon, and now we’re sharing it in a whole new way.”
Get ready to fly as How to Train Your Dragon opens in Philippine cinemas on June 11.
