Dragons: The Nine Realms is a new DreamWorks series premiering this Thursday Dec. 23 on Hulu and Peacock. Showrunner and executive producer John Tellegen gives me the 411 on this contemporary entry in the beloved franchise.

Jackson Murphy: I have wonderful memories of seeing the first How to Train Your Dragon movie when it came out in 2010. I remember that screening and being blown away by the story, the emotional power and the visuals. What are the memories you have of that first “Dragon” film that started it all?

John Tellegen: Well, my first memory of course is Hiccup and Toothless coming together and experiencing a boy and his dragon, maybe for the first time in my life for that [film]. Of course, I had seen other movies that had a boy and his dog and a boy and his alien, but this might’ve been the first boy and his dragon that I had seen. And I fell in love with it at that moment the same as I think you did, Jackson.

JM: Yeah. It’s that emotional power and friendship that of course lasted the three movies, and we’ve had several series — and now this new one “The Nine Realms”. You were a writer on “Dragons: Race to the Edge” and “Rescue Riders”. How did your work on those shows prepare you for “The Nine Realms”?

JT: As I came in to approach this show, I wanted to make sure that I was bringing the same heart — the same soul that the franchise was known for. Our show takes place 1,300 years after the end of the last film. It’s a modern day take on dragons, but myself and the team… we really set our sights on making sure that the heart and soul of the franchise remained. And I feel like we’ve done a really good job at taking modern day kids with modern day hopes and dreams and then putting them into the timeless fight for the safety and security for dragonkind, much like what happened in the previous films. So that was our approach to making sure we had a cohesive world.

JM: I’ve seen the first few episodes. You’ve done a great job with that. And it’s really interesting that we’re now in present day. So as you were exploring the storylines and the character development, what were some of the surprises you discovered about taking this world to the present day?

JT: One of the fun things we’re able to do is play on modern day issues and themes that the viking world wasn’t really concerned with. We’re able to touch on climate change in our series. We’re able to touch on animal rights in our series. We have a very diverse cast and a very diverse roster of characters that have come together — moving us away from the shores of Berk a little bit. And those influences, not only in our main characters but in our main characters’ dragons. We’ve been able to expand the palette of the origins of our dragons, and I think that’s really important — and that’s been a wonderful part of this new iteration, being able to expand the landscape.

JM: Families are gonna really enjoy this ensemble. Hiccup and Toothless have been beloved by families for the last decade. How are Tom and Thunder really going to be showcased and charm families [including] a new generation of kids?

JT: I think that the connection between Tom and Thunder and the connection between Hiccup and Toothless are very similar. They both come together. They both complete each other in that sense. The fun thing about Tom is that he’s different from Hiccup. Hiccup was born a bit of an underdog. Tom is self-assured, full of confidence… and that is what ultimately gets him in so much trouble. His belief in himself goes perhaps beyond the smartest thing from time to time. Tom is a fun character to watch in different ways than Hiccup was, but I think that it will be an exciting journey, nonetheless.

JM: You’re right that Tom is bold and very confident in how he interacts with everybody else and how he presents himself towards the dragons. I really like when Tom and Thunder come together and you see the sense of curiosity that Thunder has — about food and meeting humans. How did you want to present the sense of curiosity that dragons can have?

JT: We’re playing Thunder a little bit younger than Toothless — a little bit more playful. They’re both so amazingly lovable, to be honest, but Thunder is a bit more… I don’t wanna say puppy-ish, because it’s a dragon, not a dog… but has a bit more of that curiosity that perhaps a puppy might have. That’s brought a lovable side to Thunder that we’re all drawn to.

JM: Nice. Love seeing the electric powers that Thunder has, in the big flying and action sequences. How did you really wanna show that with the look and the sound work and everything going into these electric moments?

JT: One of the interesting things about the other “Dragons” shows that I was on was that they were based on a film franchise that had an established sound design. We were bringing new hero dragons into this show that didn’t have a sound design that had already been developed. So we set out to develop the sound of the powers and the dragons as a team, and it was a journey but it was a lot of fun to build character around the sounds that these dragons make — and to figure out how to emote from the dragons using different sounds. It’s a very important part of the dragon characters because they don’t talk. They only speak in sounds, gurgles and grumbles. So it’s a fun process to figure out the language of the dragons.

JM: The sound has always been a core part of this saga. And the look is cool. Thunder exudes lightning and the strikes. The way you have those flashes… was that a difficult process to get those moments just right?

JT: We have a really great effects team who come together to build those out for us. It is interesting in animation: it starts on the page and then you go through storyboarding and you never quite know how it’s all gonna come together until it really starts to come together. And then you get the visuals in and you say, “Wow, that’s great.” And then you put incredible sound effects underneath and you go, “WOW! Now we just blew the audience off of their sofa.” It is an exciting journey from page all the way to the screen.

JM: I have to ask you about one of your big cast members on the show. Julia Stiles (the Bourne franchise, Silver Linings Playbook, Hustlers) voices Tom’s mother [Olivia]. How was it working with her and what inspired her to wanna get into the “How to Train Your Dragon” world?

JT: Well, I think in some ways everyone wants to be in the “How to Train Your Dragon” world, Jackson. (laughs) But Julia is an incredible talent. Finding her character in the booth was a joy and a highlight for me. She’s obviously a wonderful actress and performer. It was a thrill to have her in the booth to find Olivia together. She’s welcome on any show that I’m involved in, for sure.

JM: I think you’re right that everybody wants to be part of “Dragons” because the brand is so trustworthy. People know when they’re going into a new film or a new show they’re going to get something of very high quality. And the fact that it’s from DreamWorks — and the TV portfolio just keeps growing and growing. What do you love so much… after your work on these three shows… about what the TV division at DreamWorks has been able to do?

JT: They’re very innovative. The stuff that they have in development… the way that they’re able to look at the IP that they have and find fresh, new ways of expanding the libraries that they have while also bringing in new and exciting projects. It’s a great place to work and the creative energy at DreamWorks has always driven me forward and they support all of their teams.

JM: What are your holiday season plans BESIDES watching Dragons: The Nine Realms and seeing all the positive comments come in on social media?

JT: (laughs) Well, I’m gonna grab my two kids and my wife and we’re gonna sit down and watch the shows. And then… my mother is having a huge 80th Birthday Party in the desert. So we’re gonna go celebrate my mom’s 80th after we open our presents.

JM: WOW! Congratulations. Happy Birthday to your mother. That’s fantastic.

JT: I know! She’s an amazing woman.

JM: What does your family think of you being so invested in “Dragons” and this saga for a long time now?

JT: My mother is very proud of me, of course, and she’s my biggest fan. (laughs) And I am hers. I love her very much.

JM: Aw, that’s good. And your kids must have a lot of “Dragon” toys around the house?

JT: Oh yes. Toys, posters… you name it.