In the first teaser trailer released Nov. 19, Viking chief Stoick the Vast -- portrayed by Butler, who reprises his role from the computer-animated franchise -- urged his tepid son, Hiccup, to follow in his mighty footsteps.

"When you carry this axe, you carry all of us with you," he told the boy, who nervously responded, "Dad, I can't kill dragons."

When the young misfit, played by Mason Thames, stumbled upon an injured dragon and struggled to kill the winged creature, the two instead formed an unlikely friendship.

"It's OK," he reassured the beast, "I won't hurt you."

The original 2010 animated film, based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, spawned a media franchise including two theatrical sequels, three television series and several televised short films.