As we all know, thanks in no small part to a relatively popular film that’s just come out, everyone loves dragons. Everyone, that is, except dinosaurs (they’re jealous), a couple of thousand ill-fated civilians in SKYRIM and whichever Pokemon is unlucky enough to be standing opposite Charizard.
The first HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON film by DreamWorks Animation was a tremendous success, even spawning a Cartoon Network television series called DRAGONS: RIDERS OF BERK. The sequel, inventively titled HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2, is set to release next summer and, as well as original cast returning, introduces new characters voiced by the likes of Kit Harrington (GAME OF THRONES’ Northern bastard Jon Snow) and Djimon Hounsou (BLOOD DIAMOND).
Also starring in the film is acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett, familiar for her role as Galadriel in THE LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT, as well as her recent Oscar-worthy performance in BLUE JASMINE. Blanchett will be playing Valka, a dragon rider who makes her home in the icy north and becomes a teacher figure to the protagonist Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), presumably training him in how to train his dragon. An image of Valka has been released, looking suitably epic and vikingy next to her rather odd-looking draconian pal.
Of Valka, director dean DeBlois says:
‘[she is] somebody living with the animals and learning to communicate with them in non-verbal ways and becoming much like a dragon herself. Her years of isolation and dealing with nothing but dragons and being very sympathetic to them has made her very distrusting of humans… [Hiccup] both admires her but sees her as what his life could be like taken to the extreme’.
Blanchett was an obvious choice for DeBlois, who holds her as his favourite actress:
‘We were able to tap that fiery strength that is present in every word that she utters and put it on the screen.’
Here’s the image:
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 hits cinemas on 13th June 2014.
Source: USA Today
