Summary
- Filming for the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has been put on hold due to the ongoing strike between actors' unions and big studios in Hollywood.
- The movie, set to be released in March 2025, may face delays if the strike continues for an extended period of time, joining a long list of delayed projects.
- Other popular movies and TV shows, such as Deadpool 3, Stranger Things, and The Last of Us, have also been affected by the strikes, causing potential delays and marketing challenges for studios.
The universe of How to Train Your Dragon was getting ready for its next expansion with the upcoming live-action adaptation of Cressida Cowell's acclaimed book saga, but due to the ongoing situation at Hollywood with th SAG-AFTRA and the WGA on strike until reaching an agreement with the AMTPT, production on the movie is currently on pause.
At the very beginning of 2023, rumors about the DreamWorks franchise taking a new turn into the live-action format after the incredible success of the animated projects related to the saga, started to spread around, and the confirmation came later on. Dean DeBlois, who directed the three animated movies is set to helm the new film, which stars The Black Phone's Mason Thames as Hiccup Haddock III and The Last of Us' Nico Parker as Astrid Hofferson.
According to the site Screen Daily, filming for the project was set to start this same month in Belfast, but since no deal has been made between the actors' union and the big studios, and the strike continues, the film will be part of the long list of long-awaited movies and tv shows that will be put on hold until the conflict is solved. How to Train Your Dragon is currently set to hit theaters on March 2025, but it could get delayed in case the strike continues for a long time.
How to Train Your Dragon follows the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who's the son of the leader of his town. His people have been in a war against dragons since forever, and Hiccup is supposed to learn how to hunt them in order to become the new chief once his father is gone. But when he meets Toothless, a rare dragon known as Night Fury, his perception about the creatures changes, and he'll do everything in his power to change everyone else's.
Which Other Projects Were Affected by the Strikes?
Of course, How to Train Your Dragon is not the only movie affected by the strikes. Some other popular blockbusters could also be delayed due to the ongoing situation at Hollywood. The most notable ones are probably Deadpool 3, Gladiator 2, Wicked, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part Two, Beetlejuice 2, and Venom 3 among many others.
When it comes to the small screen, some really anticipated tv shows have also been affected by the strikes. Among them are the last seasons of Stranger Things and Cobra Kai, the second installment of The Last of Us, the fourth season of The Boys, and many more.
Other projects like Dune: Part Two, Blue Beetle or The Marvels could be affected in some other ways. The movies are already finished, but actors won't be able to promote anything related to it since the SAG-AFTRA rules won't allow it, which could definitely mean bad news for the studios when it comes to marketing strategies. Directors, producers and some other team members behind the projects can still help with the promotion, but it's not the same without the main stars.