We're already starting to see more fallout from the Universal acquisition of DreamWorks Animation. The Croods 2 is already off the table and now How To Train Your Dragon 3 is shifting its release date back from a planned 2018 date to March 2019.
That, of course, could simply be to give regular director Dean DeBlois time to get the third instalment right – he has a lot to live up to given the success of the second film. And kudos to DWA for not pushing to pump out another entry of a hit franchise as quickly as possible, even if it does mean a long wait for more from Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), Toothless and the gang – it'll be five years, in fact, since 2014's second film.
The third movie finds Toothless drawn away from home after the discovery of an untamed mate. There's danger to be faced too, and Hiccup will have to handle new challenges to his reign as village chief.
Also mentioned is the Oriental DreamWorks production Everest, which sees a group of misfits encountering a lost yeti named after the world's highest mountain. They'll need to help him return to the lofty peak, where his family is waiting and worrying. That one comes from directors Tim Johnson and Todd Wilderman and will be with us later in 2019.
As for the next DreamWorks Animation to hit screens, that would be The Boss Baby, due here on 7 April next year.
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