"How To Train Your Dragon" Sequel Coming In 2013

It seems as though How to Train Your Dragon has made enough money for DreamWorks that a sequel is now being planned. Slated (tentatively, I’m sure) for release in the second half of 2013, the next installment of the franchise will hopefully have a better start than the first Dragon film. The movie put up mediocre numbers its opening weekend, which apparently had the studio “a bit nervous,” according to reports.

DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg noted in a conference call that “It’s not where you start; it’s where you finish.” He’s absolutely right – and Dragon is far from done, with $180 million in domestic ticket sales so far. That’s on track to rival the studio’s biggest hit, Kung Fu Panda, though that movie saw much larger numbers its opening weekend. Dragon has become DreamWorks’ best-reviewed movie, and shear word of mouth has given the film legs at the box office.

Although overall revenue was down for the company during the first quarter, this was likely due to the lack of a big DVD release this year. Dragon will continue to earn for them at the box office, and they also have at least three other movies being released in 2010 – Megamind in November, which will feature Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, and Will Ferrell, as well as a Shrek Halloween special and a Kung Fu Panda holiday special.

DreamWorks also has major plans for Dragon over the next few years, including a live arena show comparable to “Walking With Dinosaurs,” a television show, and an online virtual world.