In a recent interview with Collider, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ star Julian Dennison revealed the team is working hard to stay true to the original, unlike ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender,’ which took numerous creative liberties.
According to Dennison, who will star as Fishlegs Ingerman in the movie, ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ promises to remain faithful to the narrative. He assured fans about the team’s effort to stick to the story and steer clear of unnecessary changes, saying:
“They’re making sure it’s done well. There’s a lot of heart, there’s a lot of feeling, and there’s been a lot of conversations on set where they’re like, ‘Do we do this?’ And people have said, ‘No, because the audience won’t like it,’ and they’ve changed it, and they’ve done it. So they’re really staying true to what it is. So, I’m excited to see it. Yeah, it’s great.”
Considering the criticism directed at the ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ series for its departure from the original’s source material, it seems the makers of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ are aware of the disappointment that may arise.
Nico Parker Admits She’s Nervous About Fan Reception
Nico Parker, who will appear in the movie as Astrid Hofferson, expressed both excitement and nervousness about the film’s reception. A month ago, she spoke to Collider and revealed she’s aware of fan expectations:
“I’m nervous about all of it because I care about it so much and everyone cares about it so much, and I just so would love to make everyone proud. I’m constantly nervous about it. But to me, there was no reason not to do it.”
However, like Julian Dennison, she assured fans that the team behind the movie deeply cared about it.
What’s Wrong With ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’?
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ was criticized for altering the source material, which was not well received by fans. Some of the changes included the early appearance and expanded role of Fire Lord Ozai and changes to the character dynamics of Sokka.
Daniel Dae Kim, who stars as Fire Lord Ozai in the series, defended the creative liberties taken to deepen character development and enhance the storyline. On the other hand, Ian Ousley, who plays Sokka, also assured fans that Sokka is still the one fans know and love.
Everything We Know About ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
Directed by Dean DeBlois, who also directed the original animated trilogy, the live-action adaptation of ‘How to Train Your Dragon‘ will hit theaters in June 2025. Especially after the ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ live-action series, which caused controversy for the changes it made, this project is on close watch.
The film’s production kicked off on January 15, 2024, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, after delays due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Gerard Butler is reprising his role as Stoick the Vast, with a new cast of other characters, including Julian Dennison (Fishlegs Ingerman), Nico Parker (Astrid Hofferson), Mason Thames, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, and Bronwyn James.
Meanwhile, you can watch the original trilogy on Peacock.
