While we already knew that DreamWorks’ magisterial How to Train Your Dragon was to receive a sequel, and that the budding franchise was set to make its small screen début in the interim, we had little information regarding how forlorn Viking Hiccup’s story might continue.

Speaking to Italian site BadTaste, executive producer Tim Johnson spoke of DreamWorks‘ current plans for the highly anticipated sequel and spin-off series. Asked what he could reveal about the next instalment, tentatively titled for a 2013 release, Johnson replied:

“It ‘s a bit early in fact. I can tell you that Dean DeBlois, one of two directors of the first film, has agreed to direct the sequel. I can tell you that a movie will be much, much bigger than this. They are all already very scared about [the sequel], he presented the draft a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re trying to figure out how are we going to realize that history. It is good to analyze the history, locations, new characters in the movie he wants, and understand how we can achieve.”

It’s nice to see that those involved are feeling the pressure; critically lauded, How to Train Your Dragon proved somewhat of a game-changer for studio DreamWorks – who have since released the similarly impressive Megamind. With a substantial amount of work already done courtesy of the original movie, the production time looks considerably shorter as the studio look to further explore the world of Berk – on screens both big and small.

“We have a partnership with Nickelodeon for the television series Kung Fu Panda, is a show owned by Nickelodeon, with a target child, it’s fun and adventurous. How To Train Your Dragon will not be achieved with Nickelodeon, will be darker, more dramatic, like the film. The goal is to try not to change the original to turn it into a television series. However, we are truly at the beginning, we have a plan but we just started writing the script.”

It is a promising proposition, with the series set to occur in a different time-frame with little overlap of either movie. The original’s movie’s mature, irreverent tone seemingly intact, it appears DreamWorks is truly in touch with what made the first such a success. Obviously eager to do it right, the producer described the similar worries experienced first time around – particularly in terms of the creative decision to scar their child hero.

“We thought that what he had done was so powerful Hiccup, changing its culture, it was right that it should carry a scar by making it a true sacrifice. Someone suggested that hiccup was injured so badly to lose a leg, and this made us think that now would be a further link with Toothless, who had lost part of its tail.”

I can count myself relieved, safe in the knowledge that How To Train Your Dragon 2 is in good hands. With Cressida Cowell’s source material positively brimming with possibilities (the next book in the series is intriguingly titled How To Be A Pirate), 2013 really can not come quickly enough.