The ongoing actors strike, now in its 113th day, continues to disrupt the release schedules of major studios. Universal and DreamWorks Animation have recently announced that their live-action adaptation of the animated film How to Train Your Dragon will be pushed back from its original release date of March 14, 2025, to June 13, 2025. This change comes as a result of the strike, but fortunately, it does not affect the release calendar for 2024.
Universal had already reserved the June 13, 2025, date prior to this announcement. As a result of the rescheduling, there are now no other wide releases scheduled for March 14, 2025. The new release date for How to Train Your Dragon currently shares the calendar with an untitled Pixar movie. Fans of the franchise will have to wait a bit longer to see this live-action adaptation, but the excitement surrounding the project remains high.
The Creative Team
Written and directed by three-time Oscar nominee Dean DeBlois, who has helmed the entire Dragon trilogy, the new live-action adaptation stays true to the bestselling book series by Cressida Cowell. Joining DeBlois are three-time Oscar nominee Marc Platt (known for his work on acclaimed films like La La Land and Bridge of Spies) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel as producers. With such an accomplished team, expectations are understandably high for this latest installment.
The animated Dragon movies, comprising a trilogy, have been highly successful, grossing over $1.6 billion worldwide. The films have also garnered critical acclaim, receiving four Oscar nominations and winning a Golden Globe for How to Train Your Dragon 2. This success has created a strong foundation of anticipation for the live-action adaptation, as fans eagerly await its release.
Universal’s Untitled Event Movie
In addition to the How to Train Your Dragon rescheduling, Universal has also announced an untitled event movie slated for Wednesday, July 2, 2025. As with many other release dates in the future, it remains to be seen whether this untitled movie will hold or if it is merely a placeholder. As the strike continues to impact the industry, studios may need to make further adjustments to their schedules.
The actors strike has once again caused disruptions in the film industry, resulting in the rescheduling of highly anticipated movies. The move of How to Train Your Dragon from March 2025 to June 2025 is just one example of these ongoing changes. However, with an experienced creative team and a proven track record of success, fans can expect the live-action adaptation to be worth the wait. As the strike continues, more release date adjustments may be necessary, but movie lovers can remain hopeful for the eventual resolution of the labor dispute and the return of uninterrupted film schedules.