‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Live-Action Movie Adds Four to Cast

Universal’s Viking village is growing.

The studio has cast up-and-comers Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Nightsleeper), Bronwyn James (Masters of the Air) and Harry Trevaldwyn (Ten Percent) in its live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon.

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Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and directed the original and revered trilogy, is steering the new feature, returning as writer, director and producer.

The quartet join Mason Thames (The Black Phone) and Nico Parker (The Last of Us), who are starring as Hiccup and Astrid, the young teens who befriend dragons. Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick the Vast, the leader of the Viking clan and Hiccup’s father, is reprising his role in the flesh, while Nick Frost is playing Gobber the Belch, the trusted friend and adviser of Stoick.

The young thespians will play Fishlegs, Snotlout, and sister-brother duo Ruffnut and Tuffnut, respectively. The characters are part of Hiccup’s friend group that will eventually learn to embrace and not fear the dragons.

Producing along with DeBlois are Marc Platt, via his Universal-based Marc Platt Productions, as well as that company’s president, Adam Siegel. VP production Lexi Barta is overseeing the film on behalf of the studio.

Universal has set a June 13, 2025, release date for the feature.

Dennison played Fire Fist in Deadpool 2 and starred in New Zealand cult hit Hunt for the Wilderpeople. He appeared in Legendary/Warner Bros franchise Godzilla vs. Kong alongside Millie Bobby Brown and Brian Tyree Henry and recently wrapped a lead in the Jonah Hill-produced Y2K for A24 alongside Jaeden Martell and Rachel Zegler. Dennison is repped by Link Entertainment, Stride Management, Red Rocket Actors and Jackoway Austen.

Howell was seen in Netflix series Bodies and will appear in BBC series Nightsleeper. He is repped by The BWH Agency.

James is playing ShenShen in Universal’s feature adaptation of Wicked, which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. She will also appear in Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17 and HBO’s Masters of the Air. She is repped by Authentic Talent and Piers Nimmo Management.

Trevaldwyn, who is a writer and comedian on top of an actor, appeared in Judd Apatow’s The Bubble and is regular on Amazon and BBC America’s Ten Percent. He is repped by United Agents.

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