The live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon arrives in theaters this week, but discussions are already underway regarding a follow-up film, with director Dean DeBlois revealing his hope to see Cate Blanchett returning as Valka in the live-action sequel. DeBlois, who guided the original animated trilogy to success, recently explained his vision for the next movie, sharing that Blanchett remains his preferred choice to reprise the role she originally entered in How to Train Your Dragon 2.
“Well, I’m wishful as well. It’s still early days,”
—Dean DeBlois, Director
DeBlois revealed to ComicBook that the possibility of Blanchett reprising her role is still uncertain, but he has initiated discussions with her. The director emphasized that Valka was created for Blanchett from the start, making her an ideal fit for the live-action adaptation.
“I think she is probably waiting for a script, but I’ve been knocking on that door. I wrote the character of Valka for her, so I told her it’ll always be hers to turn down first,”
—Dean DeBlois, Director
The Evolution of Valka and Potential Return of Familiar Faces
Valka, originally introduced in the animated How to Train Your Dragon 2, serves as Hiccup’s mother and Stoick’s wife, whose story begins with her disappearance due to a dragon attack shortly after Hiccup’s birth. Her reappearance two decades later brings an emotional reunion with her son and husband, deepening the family narrative within the franchise. Should Blanchett join the live-action cast, she would not be alone—Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick and reprised his role in various franchise projects, is also in discussion for a return as Hiccup’s father. The film’s central themes of family, loss, and reconciliation are expected to continue with these core cast members anchoring the sequel.
Director Hints at Toothless’s Maturity in Possible Sequel
Beyond casting, DeBlois provided insight into the evolution of Toothless, the beloved dragon, anticipating subtle but impactful changes in both his appearance and behavior as the series progresses. Drawing a parallel between Toothless and Hiccup aging together, the narrative will explore the dragon’s shift from adolescence to adulthood, highlighting his growing sense of independence and leadership among dragons.
“We knew we were going to go there. The idea is that Toothless is roughly Hiccup’s age in dragon years, so he is a juvenile, an adolescent, as well, aging into adulthood,”
—Dean DeBlois, Director
“That is going to alter his design in subtle ways, but mostly it’s going to alter his mentality because he’s a very sentient dragon. He has his own opinions about everything, and he’ll also start to come into his own as a leader of his kind.”
—Dean DeBlois, Director
What Lies Ahead for the Franchise
As anticipation builds for the release of How to Train Your Dragon on June 13, fans are eager for news about the future, particularly about key cast members and the continued expansion of the story. With Cate Blanchett returning as Valka in the live-action sequel at the center of speculation, and Dean DeBlois intent on assembling the original core, the franchise appears poised to offer a fresh continuation. Details about the sequel’s script and character arcs are still in development, but the groundwork laid by DeBlois signals that familiar voices and faces will guide the next big-screen chapter for this enduring cinematic universe.
