Dragon Movie Roars to Life with $70 Million Debut

The live-action remake of "How to Train Your Dragon" is expected to open with a strong $70-80 million in its box office debut, with a chance to reach $110 million internationally, as director Dean DeBlois brings a new version of the beloved story to life. The film, which follows the story of a teenage Viking named Hiccup and his dragon friend Toothless, has received positive reviews, with Variety's chief film critic praising its iconic final act.

DeBlois, who co-wrote and co-directed the original animated film with Chris Sanders in 2010, was approached by Universal to adapt the story into live-action. He worked closely with the cast, including Mason Thames and Gerard Butler, to bring the story to life, including several new scenes and a more developed backstory for key characters. The film is set to top the three-week reign of "Lilo & Stitch" and compete with Disney's live-action remakes for family audiences.

The live-action remake includes at least 27 minutes of new material, as DeBlois aimed to revisit and improve upon the original story. He addressed several minor issues that he felt were missing from the original film, including the development of other teenage characters and the explanation of certain plot points. With a talented cast and crew, the film is sure to be a hit with fans of the animated trilogy.

As the film prepares for its release on June 13, DeBlois is excited to see how audiences will respond to the new version of the film. With its strong box office debut and positive reviews, the live-action remake of "How to Train Your Dragon" is poised to be a success, and DeBlois is considering directing the rest of the trilogy in live-action.