Cate Blanchett is mounting her dragon once again. The two-time Oscar winner has officially signed on to reprise her role as Valka in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2, reuniting her with longtime collaborator Gerard Butler in the highly anticipated sequel.
Blanchett previously voiced Valka in the animated films and now becomes the second major cast member to transition from animation to live action, following Butler, who is once again playing Stoick the Vast. Valka, introduced in the 2014 sequel, is Hiccup’s long-lost mother and a fierce Viking warrior whose return reshapes the future of Berk.
Dean DeBlois, who co-created the original animated trilogy, returns as writer, director, and executive producer after successfully shepherding the first live-action How to Train Your Dragon to theaters in June 2025. That film proved to be a massive hit, earning $636 million worldwide and quickly cementing Universal’s confidence in expanding the live-action saga.
The sequel continues the story of Hiccup, once again played by Mason Thames, as his dragon-friendly vision for Viking society evolves into something far larger and more dangerous. Blanchett joins a returning ensemble that includes Nico Parker, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn.
Is ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Worth Seeing?
Collider‘s Maggie Lovitt reviewed the film and stated that the 2010 animated classic’s live-action remake succeeds by doing the one thing most remakes fail to do: respecting the original. With Dean DeBlois returning to retell the story, the film remains largely faithful while smartly expanding character dynamics, especially between Hiccup and Stoick. Thames proves to be inspired casting as Hiccup, Parker adds depth to Astrid, and Butler bridges animation and live action with surprising emotional weight. Stunning visual effects bring Berk and its dragons vividly to life, particularly in the terrifying final act. The result is a crowd-pleasing, emotionally sincere remake that justifies its existence and sets a strong foundation for the already greenlit sequel.
During an era where the vast majority of live-action remakes have failed to understand why the animated movie was beloved in the first place, How to Train Your Dragon is a breath of fresh air. While you could make an argument that the film exists purely to support Universal Studio’s new and insanely impressive Isle of Berk, the film justifies its existence through its boundary-pushing visual effects, and the enjoyment factor explains why a sequel has already been greenlit. How to Train Your Dragon is the gold-star example of how to do a live-action remake right.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is set to release in theatres on June 11, 2027.
via Collider