Universal’s live-action adaptation of the beloved DreamWorks trilogy How To Train Your Dragon has cast its human riders. Mason Thames, known for starring opposite Ethan Hawke in Blumhouse horror The Black Phone, and The Last of Us‘s Nico Parker, will portray Hiccup and Astrid in the upcoming feature.

Dean DeBlois will write and direct the adaptation, which is due to begin filming this summer ahead of a March 14th 2025 release date. DeBlois both wrote and directed each of the three animated How To Train Your Dragon films, as well as having co-written and co-directed Disney’s Lilo & Stitch (which is also being adapted to live-action).

How to Train Your Dragon centres on the growing relationship between a young, clumsy Viking teen and aspiring dragon hunter named Hiccup and Toothless, an injured dragon he saves. Meanwhile, Astrid also progresses from someone prejudiced against dragons to a warrior bonded to one. In the animated trilogy, Astrid is voiced by America Ferrera, and Hiccup by Jay Baruchel.

Parker is no stranger to live-action adaptations of other story formats, having acted in Disney’s 2019 feature Dumbo, as well as portraying Sarah Miller in HBO’s adaptation of the video game The Last of Us. Thames most recently appeared in the CW’s Walker series.