‘He Has Funny Bones’: How To Train Your Dragon Actor Praises Live-Action Hiccup Actor

by

As a seasoned gamer and a die-hard fan of the original How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, I must admit that my initial apprehension about the live-action adaptation has slowly but surely been alleviated. The casting choices seem spot on, with veterans like Gerard Butler returning, and newcomers like Nick Frost and Mason Thames bringing fresh energy to the franchise.

Not just Disney, Universal Studios is also jumping on the bandwagon by transforming one of DreamWorks Animation’s finest films, “How To Train Your Dragon,” into a live-action remake. Excited fans are looking forward to delving deeper into this world, though the switch to live action came as a surprise. Fortunately, their concerns can be put aside since the original director is back in charge and the new Hiccup actor is garnering rave reviews from his co-stars. It appears that the movie is in capable hands – or rather, the reins of a well-trained dragon.

In the live-action version of “How To Train Your Dragon,” you’ll find a mix of seasoned and up-and-coming performers, led by Gerard Butler returning as Sotick the Vast. Yet, it’s the fresh addition to the series, Nick Frost, who has been easing fans’ concerns that this adaptation will meet and exceed their expectations.

Frost frequently shares the screen with Mason Thames, a longtime confidant and friend to Hiccup’s father Stoick the Vast in the character of Gobber the Belch. Essentially, he works closely with The Black Phone’s Mason Thames, who was cast as the lead character. In an interview with Collider, Frost discussed his experience working with Thames.

Even not when we’re shooting, just watching him, watching how his body works is so weird and funny, and he has funny bones and he’s lovely. I got to meet his family a lot and they’re all lovely, and you can see why he’s as grounded as he is when you see where he comes from. We had a lot of scenes together, and there wasn’t one thing that I did during a scene that was unscripted that ruffled him at all. He just loved it. He loved to improvise. We loved to improvise together. I was like, ‘Hey, why don’t we try this?’ And he’d be like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it!”

Actors who can strike a balance between self-awareness and immersion in their roles, allowing for spontaneous improvisation, often make performances that are particularly enjoyable.

From Frost’s compliments, it appears that Thames fits the bill perfectly for such a role, which should reassure fans who fear a live-action remake might dilute Hiccup’s unique, endearing character. If this doesn’t alleviate your concerns, take a look at Thames in Netflix’s hilarious, adolescent comedy Incoming. His performance showcases both his exceptional comic timing and irresistible appeal.

Essentially, my point is that Jay Baruchel left some large footsteps to follow, yet it seems like Thames is well-equipped to handle the challenge, as suggested by Frost’s remarks.

Although the filming for the live-action adaptation of “How To Train Your Dragon” wrapped up in May, it won’t be featured on the 2024 movie schedule. Instead, this highly anticipated movie is slated to hit theaters on June 13, 2025, and will share the spotlight with Disney Animation’s “Elio” at that time.

Viewers of the animated trilogy have ample opportunity to watch the originals on popular streaming platforms such as Hulu and Peacock, allowing them to get ready for the appearance of a live-action Toothless in the 2025 movie lineup.

Read More

2024-10-01 23:38