DreamWorks Animation announced today it is moving How to Train Your Dragon from November 20, 2009 to March 26, 2010. Based on the book by Cressida Cowell, “Dragon” is about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, heir of the Viking chiefdom, but a boy with one very big problem: a hero he is not. It’s the riotous story of Hiccup’s quest to hunt down the fiercest dragon, bring it into submission, and—hopefully—pass his initiation. Instead, he ends up with the smallest, most ornery dragon—it’s even toothless!
This summer, the company will release Kung Fu Panda on June 6 and later this year, on November 7, Madagascar: The Crate Escape hits theaters.
DreamWorks Animation has set its first “Ultimate” 3-D release, Monsters vs. Aliens, for March 27, 2009. Then, How to Train Your Dragon will be followed by Shrek Goes Fourth on May 21, 2010. The company’s planned fall 2010 release, which has a working title of MasterMind, is scheduled for November 5, 2010.
“Slightly shifting our release schedule gives ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ access to the maximum number of screens in a less crowded release window,” said DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We believe this provides each project with the best possible chance to succeed and is an overall positive for the Company and our shareholders.”
In related news, the company said it plans to premiere “Shrek the Musical” on Broadway on December 14, 2008.