A crew member working on the upcoming sequel to Universal’s live-action How to Train Your Dragon has reportedly lost multiple fingers in a serious on-set accident during production in the UK.
The incident is said to have taken place earlier this month at Sky Studios Elstree, where How to Train Your Dragon 2 is currently filming.
According to reports from Variety, a special effects technician was injured while working with a saw in a production workshop linked to the film.
Details surrounding the exact circumstances remain unclear, but the injuries are understood to be severe.
Doctors reportedly attempted to save the severed fingers through surgery, but were unable to reattach them.
While the specifics of what went wrong remain unknown, the incident comes amid wider concerns about safety conditions in the UK film and television industry.
Last year, Bectu issued a joint statement with Pact warning about health and safety risks on set.
Their research linked many of these risks to workers being asked to go beyond agreed rest periods, a practice known as ‘broken turnaround.’
‘Breaking turnaround impacts workers’ ability to do their job safely and effectively,’ said Spencer Macdonald, per Variety.
‘Reports to Bectu indicate that exhaustion, accidents and near-misses are all too common, as well as poor mental health for many film and TV workers.’
The sequel is being directed by Dean DeBlois, who returns to the franchise after helming the original animated films.
The How to Train Your Dragon series, based on the bestselling books by Cressida Cowell, has become one of Universal’s most successful family properties, grossing more than $2.2 billion (£1.7 billion) globally across its releases.
The studio’s first live-action adaptation proved a major hit last year, bringing in over $636 million (£500 million) worldwide and marking the biggest box office performance in the franchise’s history.
The follow-up is currently slated for release on June 11, 2027, with a cast that includes Phil Dunster, Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, and Julian Dennison among others.
Filming began in February, but the accident marks a troubling early setback for the major studio production.
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