The animated film How to Train Your Dragon is making the leap to live-action and is gradually revealing more names of its cast. One of the most pleasant surprises for fans of the original franchise is that Gerard Butler, the actor who lent his voice to the character of Stoick the Vast, will take that same role to the live-action version. The Scottish actor who played the father of the protagonist returns to play the iconic Viking leader in the feature film that will hit theaters in 2025.
Stoic the Vast, the role played by Gerard Butler in the film saga, is the father of the teenage protagonist and strongly opposes his son's friendship with the friendly dragon Toothless, believing that it is impossible to trust these unpredictable species.
Butler's announcement marks a significant milestone for this Universal production, as he is the first member of the original cast to confirm his participation in the new installment. Not only does this project bring together experienced performers with new talent, but there is also consistency in the creative team. Also, filmmaker Dean DeBlois, who was behind the animated films, returns to take the reins as writer, director and producer.
Mason Thames (Doctor Strange) and Nico Parker (The Last of Us) will join Butler in the cast, playing the young protagonists Hiccup and Astrid. Although further casting and plot details are still unknown, the studios have promised fidelity to the original stories and the atmosphere of the magical world created by DreamWorks Animation.
The live action version of How to Train Your Dragon will release on June 13, 2025, but there is still no news about the start of filming.