The sequel to DreamWorks Animation’s hit 2009 title How to Train Your Dragon has found itself a villain.

Kit Harington, the fast-rising star of the rabidly popular HBO series Game of Thrones, has entered into negotiations to join How to Train Your Dragon 2. Details on who exactly Harington will be voicing are being kept under wraps at the moment, but the character is described as being a “villainous warrior.”

Back in October, DreamWorks Animation announced their intentions to produce a sequel to their hit animated title, How to Train Your Dragon. At that time, it was also revealed that the entire cast of the original movie — including Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig — would be returning for How to Train Your Dragon 2 as well…except for one.

At that time it was unclear whether the biggest star on their roster, Gerard Butler, would be back or not. Now comes word that Mr. Butler has worked all of the dirty details out, and will indeed be back to voice the role of Stoick, the strong warrior father of Hiccup (Baruchel).

As we all very well know, sequels are pretty much a guarantee when a movie does well, especially when it comes to computer animated feature films.

DreamWorks Animation has always been second to the masters of animated features, Pixar Animation, but they’ve done a great job improving their status over the years by delivering some impressive films. Unlike Pixar, who’ve always been a little reluctant on the idea, DreamWorks has never shied away from a sequel opportunity. Their biggest success, Shrek, turned into a major four-film franchise and Madagascar has its second sequel set for release in 2012. They also have a sequel to Kung Fu Panda on the way and a Shrek spinoff planned.

All of that said, it should come as no surprise that DreamWorks Animation has had plans to release a sequel to their last big hit, How To Train Your Dragon, and now they’ve started to reveal details on the sequel.

How To Train Your Dragon
Directed by Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois
Starring Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jay Baruchel, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson
Rated PG
Release date: March 26, 2010

Dreamworks Animation has a spotty track record with me. Some of their movies I’ve loved (Shrek, Kung Fu Panda) and some of their movies I haven’t loved (Madagascar, Bee Movie, Shark Tale), so I wasn’t sure what to expect from How to Train Your Dragon.

Based on the whimsical children’s novel of the same name by Cressida Cowell, the film follows the story of of Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a Viking teenager who happens to be the worst dragonslayer in the history of Vikings. Fortunately for Hiccup, he soon meets a dragon named Toothless who shows him that everything the Vikings know about dragons is completely wrong.

This film really impressed me. I had been looking forward to it ever since I saw the trailer before my viewing of A Christmas Carol in IMAX 3D a few months ago and I have to say I was not disappointed in the least.