Gerard Butler Referring To Filming The Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon Movie As ‘Five Pieces Of Hell’ Weirdly Makes Me Even More Excited For The New Film

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As a long-time fan of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, I can hardly contain my excitement for the live-action remake. Gerard Butler’s journey into the world of Stoick the Vast has been nothing short of Herculean, with hours upon hours spent on a beastly beard and an even more formidable costume.

Imagine voicing a character like Stoick for over a decade and then getting the opportunity to truly embody him in all his Viking glory! It’s like going from reading a book to living it, except with a 90-pound costume and freezing weather in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

But hey, if you can’t stand the cold while wearing a massive costume, maybe you shouldn’t be a Viking, eh? I can’t wait for the world to see this epic tale unfold on the big screen, especially since Butler himself has seen an early cut and couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. Bring on June 13, 2025! The dragons are ready to soar again!

In a rare feat for actors, Gerard Butler has had the opportunity to portray the same character in both an adored animated movie series and its live-action adaptation – specifically, he’s returning to the role of Hiccup’s father, Stoick the Vast, in the upcoming “How To Train Your Dragon” film. His enthusiasm about embodying this Viking character is really ramping up my anticipation!

As a fan of both acting and fantasy films, I was absolutely thrilled when I first saw the teaser for “How To Train Your Dragon” and caught a glimpse of actor Gerard Butler as Stoick. The moment his image flashed on screen, my excitement grew even more as he bore an uncanny resemblance to the character I’d always imagined from the books. When I heard that the media had asked him about the massive beard he sported for the role, I couldn’t help but feel a connection to his experiences as an actor.

In my own career, I’ve often found myself transforming physically for various roles, and I can only imagine the dedication it must have taken Butler to grow such a impressive beard for Stoick. As someone who has also donned prosthetics and spent hours in makeup chairs, I know firsthand the sacrifices actors make to bring their characters to life.

Gerard Butler’s response to the question about his beard growth left me even more impressed. His humility and willingness to fully commit to the character spoke volumes about his professionalism as an actor. As a fellow artist, I can appreciate the passion and dedication he has for his craft, and I eagerly await the release of “How To Train Your Dragon” to see the incredible performance he’ll undoubtedly deliver.

Absolutely not! It felt more like enduring five mini-hells every day. Each day included hours upon hours, and even an additional hour just for getting dressed in that costume.

It was certainly thrilling for the actor to bring the DreamWorks character back to life through physical performance, yet it wasn’t just fun and games; there were numerous responsibilities beyond mere voice acting. As he shared with Entertainment Tonight, growing Stoick’s signature facial hair wasn’t his initial plan, but getting his hairstyle ready for set was a “five-layer nightmare.” Additionally, he made this remark: [Actor’s name] commented that the process of preparing his hair for the set was nothing short of hell.

I often pondered, “What if I could truly experience the life of those characters in the movies I used to watch as an animation? To actually be the size of those creatures and reside within their worlds?” As an actor, I adore immersing myself in different realms through my roles, but it’s a unique sensation when the world is animated. However, with the creation of live-action versions, that feeling has become a reality. Now, I find myself standing in those arenas and dwelling within that viking village.

As a film enthusiast, I must admit that the wave of live-action Disney remakes has left me feeling a bit fatigued. However, the prospect of revisiting Toothless in a new cinematic adaptation fills me with anticipation. The fact that original writer and director, Dean DeBlois, is returning to helm this DreamWorks project for live-action, adds an extra layer of excitement. The first glimpses we’ve seen are truly promising!

In the course of portraying Hiccup for around ten years across the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, Butler could merely speculate about what it feels like to be a Viking like Stoick. Yet, during filming of the live-action adaptation (completed in May), he enjoyed immersing himself in that world. However, this also meant that Butler had to wear a 90-pound costume and shoot in cold weather in Belfast, Northern Ireland. As Butler went on to say:

The film is truly spectacular, and I had the pleasure of watching it without any special effects. It left me absolutely astonished. I can hardly contain my excitement for everyone else to witness this masterpiece too.

As someone who has always been captivated by the tales of Vikings and their rich history, I must admit that my excitement for the upcoming 2025 film is reaching a fever pitch. Despite my deep affection for animated films, this live-action adaptation promises an immersive experience that I believe will be truly unparalleled. With Gerard Butler and his fellow cast members having firsthand knowledge of Viking life, the movie seems destined to deliver a taste of that world in a way that only they can. Having grown up listening to stories about the Vikings and their exploits, I am eagerly awaiting this cinematic journey back into their world.

Looking forward to experiencing Stoick brought to life by Butler, as well as the new interpretations of characters like Hiccup (Mason Thames), Astrid (Nico Parker), Gobber the Belch (Nick Frost) and Fishlegs Ingerman (Julian Dennison). Plus, who can forget the thrill of seeing dragons soar and exploring the world of Berk. The film will be in theaters on June 13th!

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2025-01-04 17:37