'How to Train Your Dragon 3' Release Date, News: Third Sequel Pushed Back to 2017
DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg confirmed there would be a third film in the "How To Train Your Dragon" film franchise, and "maybe more," he said.
Dean DeBlois, writer and director of the "HTTYD" second and third installment, said that the 2014 movie was intentionally designed to pave the way for a third act.
"There are certain characters and situations that come into play in the second film that will become much more crucial to the story by the third," DeBlois told The Hollywood Reporter.
Initially slated for release in 2016, the highly-acclaimed DreamWorks Animation film's premiere date is recently pushed back to June 9, 2017, according to ComingSoon.net.
The announcement of postponement was also coupled with the news by Dreamworks and Fox, which handles the distribution of the cartoon movie, that "How To Train Your Dragon 2" has become the highest-grossing animated film of the year. It's also one of the top 10 highest-grossing films of the year in any genre because it which has crossed the $600 million worldwide mark on Labor Day.
"How to Train Your Dragon 2" took in $174 million domestically and $426 million in the international scene.
The third movie will be produced by Bonnie Arnold. Jay Baruchel will return to voice his character Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, son of the Viking chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler) and friend to Toothless, a dragon of the rare Night Fury breed. America Ferrera is also reported to come back to voice Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup's love interest and companion of a Deadly Nadder dragon, Stormfly.
Cate Blanchett will once again be Hiccup's mother Valka and rider of of Cloudjumper, a Stormcutter dragon.
According to a press release, "How to Train Your Dragon 3" will take off from where it ended in the last movie -- Hiccup became the new chieftain of the Viking village of Berk.