Cate Blanchett Joins Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’

Blanchett, who voiced the character in two of the animated versions of the ‘Dragon’ movies joins Gerard Butler in making the leap to live-action.

(Left) Cate Blanchett, Oscar® presenter, poses backstage during the live ABC Telecast of The 87th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 22, 2015. Credit/Provider: Mark Suban / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon', written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Preview:

Cate Blanchett will play Viking warrior Valka in ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2.’
She’s reprising her role from the animated adventures.
Dean DeBlois is once more writing and directing.

Cate Blanchett is ready to hang with dragons once more.

The actor is becoming the second person from the animated ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ franchise to reprise their voice role in live-action, following Gerard Butler.

Blanchett will join Butler and the rest in ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2,’ which is following last year’s first adaptation.

Franchise overseer Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed that first live-action entry is back pulling double duty again for this new one.

What’s the story of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’?

Mason Thames (right) as Hiccup with his Night Fury dragon, Toothless, in Universal Pictures’ live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon', written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Based, like the animated movies, on Cressida Cowell’s books, the stories follow young Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames), who goes against his society’s dragon-battling ways when he befriends one called Toothless.

The second instalment will continue Hiccup’s adventures. Blanchett’s Valka is the long-lost mother of Hiccup, and wife of Viking leader Stoick the Vast (Butler, who also appeared in the first live-action movie).

In addition to Thames, Butler and now Blanchett, Nico Parker, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn will all appear in the sequel.

Where else can we see Cate Blanchett?

(L to R) Cate Blanchett and Bradley Cooper in 'Nightmare Alley'. Photo: Searchlight Pictures.

Blanchett last year starred in Steven Soderbergh’s critically acclaimed espionage thriller ‘Black Bag,’ whose cast also included Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela and Naomie Harris. She was part of the ensemble of ‘Father Mother Sister Brother,’Jim Jarmusch’s drama that premiered at the Venice Film Festival and where it won the Golden Lion.

And she had a cameo in the final episode of Netflix series ‘Squid Game. ’

She has a few movies either in development or headed our way, including new drama ‘Sweetsick’ and sci-fi comedy ‘Alpha Gang.’ And Blanchett is a producer on a comedy called ‘Peaches.’

When will ‘How to Train Your Dragon 2’ be in theaters?

Universal Pictures has already scheduled the sequel for a June 11, 2027 release date.

Which isn’t all that surprising, given that the first live-action movie earned $636 million worldwide.

Stoick (Gerard Butler) and Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live- action 'How to Train Your Dragon', written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.