2025’s How To Train Your Dragon included a significant change that could improve the sequel’s villain. DreamWorks’ first live-action remake is a major success, but it bears striking similarities to its animated counterpart. While it’s not a sH๏τ-for-sH๏τ remake, HTTYD largely includes the same story, dialogue, and iconic moments that made the 2010 film so memorable.

One notable change in HTTYD is the residents of the Isle of Berk, who are more diverse, with many races and ethnicities. The film explains that much of the tribe came from different locations, including the Far East, the Silk Road, and “the sun-baked coasts of Blaland.” It’s a small addition, but it’s an important one.

However, the film doesn’t answer why several tribes joined forces at Berk. It’s ᴀssumed that it’s to help each other vanquish the dragons, but that may be a more simplified answer for the first film. There may be a possible connection to the sequel’s villain that would make him even more intimidating in the upcoming remake.

Drago Bludvist’s First Attack Could Explain How To Train Your Dragon’s New Isle Of Berk

Drago Bludvist, played by Djimon Hounsou, is the HTTYD franchise’s most frightening villain. Backed by the power of the alpha, Drago managed to merge his army with another army of dragons, threatening to conquer any tribe who doesn’t bend the knee to him. While he wasn’t mentioned in the first film, he has a history with the Vikings, especially Stoick.

In 2014’s How To Train Your Dragon 2, Stoick reveals his first encounter with the cloaked villain. Drago arrived at a meeting of the chieftains, suggesting that only he could defeat the dragons. He would be willing to help the other chiefs, but only if they swore their loyalty to him. When they refused, Drago burned down their meeting, killing everyone except Stoick.

This meeting seemingly comes out of nowhere in the sequel. If Drago was still out there, then it would make sense for Stoick to constantly be on the lookout for him. However, the sequel can fix this problem by connecting Drago’s attack to Berk’s diverse population.

Since Stoick was the only chief left, other tribes would look to him for guidance, especially if Drago was taking his army to different tribes around the region. Joining forces at Berk strengthens their numbers, and uniting under Stoick as the main leader keeps them focused on protecting themselves as one community.

This explanation would clarify this change from the first film and strengthen Drago as a villain by giving him a more looming presence over Berk. That would enhance his story as not just a dark mirror of Stoick or Valka, but make Drago someone everyone on the isle has a history with and reason to fear him.

The remake did mention Cate Blanchett’s Valka, allowing the live-action franchise to already tee up a sequel, and Drago is an essential part. Every villain needs a good backstory, and How To Train Your Dragon may have subtly established part of Drago’s before the live-action HTTYD 2 arrives in 2027.