How to Train Your Dragon Director Wishes He’d Used This Design Element from Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk

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It’s possible that you’re aware that the storyline of “How to Train Your Dragon” and the fictional island of Berk draw inspiration from a blend of fairy tales, folklore, and fantasy. However, if you happen to be among those who think dragons exist in reality, I just want to clarify that this isn’t a fact here. From towering cliffs to sparkling oceans, Viking ships to grand Mead Halls, every element in the trilogy was vividly created, unbounded by the constraints of real-world physics.

That is, until now. 

The fantastical land of Berk, once only seen in dreams, now exists in reality at Universal’s Epic Universe. This new park in Orlando has been reimagined to offer a fully enveloping, dragon-filled experience as part of its five themed areas. Meanwhile, during the creation of this universe, another Viking village was being constructed from scratch.

The live-action version of “How to Train Your Dragon” is about to hit theaters on June 13th. This film was shot in Belfast, Northern Ireland last year, leading us to speculate whether the creative team drawing some inspiration from Epic Universe, or possibly vice versa.

In a chat with SYFY Wire, the director and writer of the franchise, Dean DeBlois, addressed the intriguing query: Was there an exchange of creative concepts between the movie and the theme park?

Did the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie work with Epic Universe?

Deblois disclosed an informal collaboration between them, as neither party had any contractual agreements due to the theme of the park being derived from the animated films (particularly the first sequel). However, there was a shared exchange of design ideas early on, allowing both projects to draw inspiration freely from each other.

According to the director, we exchanged design concepts, leading to several discussions where we shared, “Here’s the village we’re constructing for the live-action film,” and “This is the land they’re developing for the theme park.

He continued by saying, “In other words, I’m informing you that certain elements we’ve been developing will be shared with you, and in return, you can share yours as well.

In contrast to the narrative established in How to Train Your Dragon, the movie set and Epic Universe don’t perfectly correspond. The live-action remake is grounded in the original 2010 film, while Epic Universe portrays a timeframe between the second and third movies, showcasing an era of peaceful coexistence between Vikings and dragons. This discrepancy, as expected, affected collaboration, but DeBlois was content with his workload focusing solely on the movie.

How to Train Your Dragon director on the difference between live-action Berk and Epic Universe

Dean Deblois praises Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk as a fantastic representation of imaginative design, expressing his disappointment that his layout for the live-action movie’s Viking village seemed rather flat and ordinary in contrast to the lively atmosphere of the theme park.

According to DeBlois, the homes and structures are positioned on slopes, creating an intriguing sight as one explores the Isle of Berk. The way they stand out against each other in shadow produces a varying silhouette that constantly changes, keeping it fascinating.

Acknowledging the efforts of Epic Universe’s design team, he emphasized that the theme park was impressively and accurately brought to life. This is significant praise coming from a director who has received three Academy Award nominations for his filmmaking accomplishments.

“Note taken,” he joked.

Visit Epic Universe and check out the Isle of Berk for yourself! The live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon will make its exclusive theater debut on June 13th.

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2025-05-28 23:01