The How To Train Your Dragon live-action adaptation is already looking like a success, and director Dean DeBlois has plans for its upcoming sequel. The re-imagining of the 2010 animated hit follows Mason Thames as the young Viking Hiccup, who discovers a love for dragons while training to kill them. The movie is on pace for a mᴀssive $80 million domestic opening, which will make it the best opening weekend in the movie franchise. Ahead of its summer release, the studio had already greenlit How To Train Your Dragon 2 in April.

In an interview with ComicBook.com, DeBlois is promising a tonal shift from the original 2014 follow-up, explaining that he expects a “pretty heavy” take. Given that the storyline involves Toothless “being weaponized and turned against Hiccup,” he believes that it was already a heavy topic for an animated movie. The live-action adaptation should only enhance those emotions, which should make for a better movie in DeBlois’ eyes. Check out his quote below:

Certainly in the second movie, tackling the whole idea of Toothless being weaponized and turned against Hiccup and Stoic intervening like that, that’s a pretty heavy moment. It was heavy for animation. I think it’ll get even weightier in live action, so I look forward to that, too, because there’s something about the second movie. That, for most fans, is their favorite because it tackles tougher subject matter. It’s a little bit darker and more expansive, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m only writing right now, but I’ll get there. I’ll definitely get there.

What This Means For How To Train Your Dragon 2

The Sequel Will Be Darker, Which Is Very Much Expected

How To Train Your Dragon‘s live-action sequel already has its release date scheduled for June 11, 2027. That is still subject to change, given that DeBlois is still working on the script, and he may need to make major changes in the near future. In an interview with SYFY, he emphasized that he was watching the reception closely, as he was “really curious” about the audience’s reaction. Check out his quote below, which emphasizes just how much he may change to address audience expectations:

If people like the faithful quality to it, that opens up the possibility to go deeper into scenes and to course correct some things that I live with as regrets that I feel like we could have done better. The second movie is a favorite for most fans, so I think if my theory proves correct and they like seeing the story retold with new nuances and explorations, then that’s the path I’ll go down. But my fingers are on the keyboard right now, and I’m kind of waiting to see how this movie is received.

So far, the audience certainly enjoyed the faithful storyline, as the movie has earned an A CinemaScore rating and a 98% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes. While How to Train Your Dragon is not a sH๏τ-for-sH๏τ remake, critics and audiences have appreciated the opportunity to see a realistic Toothless taking to the skies. If DeBlois is adjusting the script to satisfy viewers, he will likely only continue to enhance and lengthen existing scenes. This is quite evident in the latest remake, which includes a deeper arc for Astrid and a more serious tone overall.

In the How to Train Your Dragon ​​​​​​live-action sequel, the confrontation between Hiccup and Toothless could likely be even darker, especially if Toothless is forced into captivity for an extended period. Hiccup losing his father and Toothless at once would be devastating. Furthermore, the sequel will likely introduce a key character, who turns out to be Hiccup’s mother. After initially being abducted by a dragon, Valka becomes a protector of dragons, but there is criticism of her abandoning her only son. While there is no confirmed casting, DeBlois spoke about his hopes of bringing back Cate Blanchett, who voiced the character in the sequel.

Our Take On How To Train Your Dragon 2’s Tone

Live-Action Always Feels Different & More Dramatic

Animated characters are more expressive than their live-action counterparts, but it is also more difficult to connect with them as human beings. Seeing an animated man grieving for his dragon is certainly painful, but seeing a crying Thames could be even more devastating. This tonal shift was already hinted at in the 2025 remake, as it presents a more dramatic and serious tone than the original, especially in terms of Thames’ performance. The shift was expected due to the live-action treatment, and it was the director’s main goal in filming the remaking to elevate the depth.

The live-action Toothless also looks much more intimidating than its animated counterpart, so the tragedy in the sequel will be even more impactful. Every dragon in this franchise is more horrifying in live-action, so the How To Train Your Dragon sequel should be far darker than its predecessor. Thus, it’s not surprising that DeBlois is aiming for this tone, and it seems that the positive reception will only encourage the filmmaker to find the right balance for the sequel.

Source: ComicBook.com & SYFY