In-flight entertainment has changed the course of Mason Thames’ life.
While director Dean DeBlois was traveling to London for auditions to cast a live-action Hiccup from his animated franchise, he decided to watch a movie during his flight. He chose Scott Derrickson’s “The Black Phone,” featuring Ethan Hawke. As a Canadian filmmaker, DeBlois was captivated by the young actor’s performance at 13 years old, and he felt compelled to include him on his list of potential 15-year-old Viking candidates.
It seems they experienced quite a few obstacles, as Dean told me he watched “The Black Phone” on an airplane, and then exclaimed, ‘Why isn’t this boy auditioning for Hiccup? Let’s get him in the room.’ This was shared with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of How to Train Your Dragon‘s June 13 release. It feels almost like fate, and it’s astonishing how a small coincidence like that has significantly impacted my life.
Thames took over the character that Jay Baruchel voiced in Deblois’ three animated movies during the 2010s, and it was an ideal match for the Texan actor. Even now, he can recall the excitement of his 7-year-old self encountering the Viking who would later bridge generations’ worth of conflict between the Vikings of Isle of Berk and their neighboring dragons. This memory led to him dressing up as a Halloween costume and more.
Thames expressed, ‘I aspired to become just like that character.’ He strongly identified with Hiccup. Honestly, I never imagined I’d have the opportunity to take on his role and potentially influence children as Hiccup influenced me when I was young. It’s truly a privilege.
Moving on to other projects under Thames’ Universal umbrella, which paved the way for “Dragon” and “Black Phone 2”, the spine-tingling first trailer for the latter was recently unveiled. The narrative unfolds four years after the occurrences in Derrickson’s “The Black Phone”, where Finney Blake (played by Thames) and his sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), seemed to have triumphed over Ethan Hawke’s notorious serial killer, The Grabber. However, the psychological and supernatural ordeals that Finney endured aren’t fully resolved, continuing to haunt him and his sister long after their initial victory.
Thames praises the work done by co-writers Derrickson and Cargill on the character Finney, calling it remarkable. Often in horror films, friends and family of characters meet tragic ends, but in the following movie they seem to carry on as if nothing happened, enjoying a carefree college life. However, as Thames points out, the genuine impact of such traumatic experiences is that they leave lasting scars. A person going through such an ordeal would not easily return to their former self, especially when the victim is a child grappling with these events.
In a recent chat with THR, Thames reveals an insightful suggestion his mother offered him while filming the initial dragon-riding scene of Hiccup.
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Few people have the opportunity to bring a beloved animated character to existence. Does it feel real to you now?
Actually, it’s quite unbelievable to me yet. I never imagined that I would become one of my childhood idols and enter this realm. Every day, I feel incredibly honored and fortunate, and I express my gratitude to Dean [DeBlois] each time I meet or even think about him for providing me with such an opportunity.
At 7 years old, you remember saying to yourself that you want to be Hiccup?
I recall seeing the preview for the second film, “How to Train Your Dragon 2” from 2014. In it, Hiccup removes his helmet and appears older. Afterward, I naturally watched the movies and imagined myself in his position. It felt like I wanted to be just like him. I connected with Hiccup deeply. Honestly, I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to walk in his footsteps and potentially influence children as Hiccup influenced me when I was young. What an incredible privilege it is.
I believe it was somehow fate-determined, as I understand that when Director Dean DeBlois was en route to a Hiccup audition in London, he happened to watch “The Black Phone” during his flight, which sparked thoughts about your potential age at that time. Has he shared this story with you?
Indeed, they seemed to have faced quite a few obstacles. Dean shared with me that he watched “The Black Phone” on an airplane, and then remarked, “Why isn’t this child trying out for Hiccup? Let’s get him in the audition.” It almost feels like fate, and it’s amazing how a small coincidence like that has significantly impacted my life. I am incredibly thankful.
Could it be possible that your past success with Universal Studios may have given you a boost during the audition process? It’s tough to tell for sure, though.
Absolutely, there’s a possibility. I’ve encountered numerous exceptional executives at Universal, and I believe that when you enjoy your work and collaborate with great people, meaningful connections are formed. Donna Langley, the NBCUniversal Chairman, is simply remarkable, and I hold her in high regard. I strongly feel that she played a significant role in advocating for me.
In your casting video, you exclaimed, “Mom, did you just catch that?” Was she able to listen to what was said? Did she understand the exciting news being conveyed?
(Laughs.) She did! I didn’t think she was listening downstairs, so I yelled out for her. To my surprise, she responded, “Yes, I did!” Her voice was filled with tears, which touched me deeply. That moment turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Just a few days prior, my dad had picked up a small dragon balloon from Kroger as a good luck charm for me. She brought that balloon upstairs and handed it to me, making it an even more precious memory that I’ll hold dear forever. Now, this touching moment is immortalized on the internet.
In your acting session with Nico Parker, were you immediately sensing a strong bond, or did you think your performance might not be up to par?
As a gamer, I must admit, I was so tense during our encounter with Nico that I sort of lost track. She, among everyone else, truly shone brightly. Her kindness towards me, when she intentionally flubbed a line to ease my anxiety, was nothing short of remarkable. In that moment, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and ever since then, Nico has continued to show her genuine care. Being her Hiccup is an honor I cherish deeply.
Were you perhaps mistaken earlier, or was it her intention to allow you another chance to observe the situation?
If I’d messed up a line, I would have fainted from the tension. Fortunately, I didn’t, but she noticed how jittery I was before we began our performance. I don’t recall this, but apparently, I was walking nervously in some room. So she saw that and deliberately did it to comfort me. She had been there for quite a while and was already exhausted, but she wanted to ease my nerves. So, thank you, Nico, for your thoughtfulness.
Among Nico Parker, Madeleine McGraw, and Mckenna Grace, you’ve had the pleasure of working with some exceptional acting companions.
Oh, I know.
Does each one bring out a different side of you?
Absolutely, every film I’ve worked on alongside Nico, Mckenna, and Madeleine has been a unique genre. Working with Nico in the fantastical world of How to Train Your Dragon was truly memorable. Collaborating with Maddy on the suspenseful and gloomy tale of Black Phone 2 was an incredible experience. As for working with Mckenna on the romantic movie Regretting You, she’s simply brilliant. Despite not knowing each other well, we shared a special connection that made the whole process effortless.
In The Black Phone, the journeys of Hiccup and Finney differ significantly. While Finney confronts a dragon and ultimately defeats it, Hiccup’s mission is to save, rather than harm, his own dragon. However, they share a common thread in their troubled relationships with their fathers, both of whom exhibit abusive behavior in unique ways. Did you find yourself making comparisons between Hiccup and Finney at any point?
To be honest, Finney wasn’t someone I could connect with personally. He seems to have numerous issues and a difficult existence. My creative spark for Finney primarily came from watching classic films such as “The 400 Blows.” In contrast, Hiccup was already established in the original, but I wanted to bring my own touch. To achieve this, I would reference movies like “Spider-Man,” and I also drew upon experiences from my personal life and incorporated them into Hiccup’s character.
What scene did you eagerly anticipate bringing to life through live-action? Was it perhaps the “Test Drive” sequence that you had in mind?
You nailed it! I never imagined how they’d pull off “Test Drive” in live-action, even during production, I had no clue what the outcome would be. But watching it on the big screen, it truly astounds me. They did an outstanding job, and I feel so lucky to have been involved in such a remarkable project.
I heard they played John Powell’s “Test Drive” score on set. Did that do half the work for you?
100% true to say, that idea came from my mom. I can still recall the moment, perched on the dragon, when our adventure began. Initially, I was just moving my shoulders back and forth, which felt odd. But then my mom suggested, “You should play some music for him.” And they agreed! So, they played the music, and it transformed the experience. All of a sudden, I was fully immersed in the scene, letting my imagination run wild as we journeyed through those mountains. It was an enjoyable ride.
I’m thrilled that your mother is finally receiving recognition for her role in this project since Dean didn’t share that detail with me earlier.
She’s probably smiling right now.
In your working environment, you were provided with a puppet head as a prop. But have you ever found yourself envisioning the animated Toothless character during a particular scene instead?
Fortunately, I possess an exceptionally rich imagination. As they constructed the sets, I could visualize Toothless in the cove even when he wasn’t physically present, thanks to the realistic lighting and surroundings. This allowed me to easily picture him being there and fostering a bond with such a mythical creature. It was quite a steep learning experience, but it turned out to be incredibly enjoyable.
I watched a video where you were conversing with an actor portraying Hiccup at Epic Universe, and he was perfectly imitating Jay Baruchel’s voice from the animated series. Even though I appreciate your unique style, have you ever considered attempting that Hiccup accent?
I’m capable of mimicking Hiccup’s character, but if I were to emulate him in this movie, it might come off as disrespectful given how exceptional and iconic Jay’s portrayal is. However, I had to bring my own interpretation to the role. I aimed to preserve Hiccup’s signature traits, like his dry humor and intelligence. But I also wanted to delve into unexplored aspects of Hiccup – a more somber, lonely side that shows his struggle for acceptance within his village and from his father. Despite being rejected by his people and disregarded by his father, he yearns for their approval and longs to be recognized as a true Viking. The opportunity to uncover this hidden side of Hiccup and add some fresh nuances to the character was an exciting challenge.
Dean actually showed your reading to Jay?
Here’s what Dean shared with me, and it holds great significance for me. When I began working on the film Dragon, Jay started following me on Instagram. So far, we haven’t had a proper conversation, but I hope that changes soon. If we do speak, I would likely express my gratitude. His portrayal of Hiccup is so legendary, and it was a significant part of my childhood. It has greatly inspired me.
If all goes well, are you already committed to making the whole trilogy in live-action?
Each time that question comes up, I feel anxious since I’m unsure of my response. However, I’m quite thrilled about it, and if Dean is present, so am I. Consequently, I’m eagerly anticipating whatever lies ahead in the future.
I recently had a chat with Scott Derrickson, and he shared that he delayed creating ‘Black Phone 2’ specifically for your and Madeleine’s characters to be of high school age. Did you find it intriguing to revisit this character after such a significant growth since the first movie?
Absolutely, Scott and C. Robert Cargill have an exceptional writing talent, and their portrayal of the character Finney is simply remarkable. In many horror films, after a character’s loved ones meet a grisly end, they seem to move on with life in the next movie, living carefree college lives. However, it doesn’t feel authentic – the impact of such traumatic experiences lingers and can fundamentally change a person, especially if that person is still young. Skipping ahead four years from the initial film, following Finney’s journey was both entertaining and thought-provoking as we explored his growth and recovery after such a harrowing experience.
Yesterday, we caught a glimpse of a few previews before the trailer was released, and it seems that Finney is facing another challenging journey ahead.
For sure. That’s all I can say, but for sure.
You’ve accomplished one dream role, so what’s the next one you want to manifest?
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but express my eagerness for another superhero movie adventure, be it a DC or Marvel production. Memories flood back as I recall the thrilling experiences shared with my father at the cinema, watching Marvel movies during my childhood days. The nostalgia and excitement that those moments evoke are truly unique. Here’s hoping that one day I’ll have the opportunity to contribute to this fantastic universe.
In the future, when you’re looking back on your memories of “How to Train Your Dragon”, which specific day do you think will stand out in your mind first?
That’ll likely be the time when I was informed I got the job – a moment that marked the start of everything. Ever since then, “How to Train Your Dragon” has become an integral part of my life. The film is about to hit the screens, and we’re eager to introduce it to everyone. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but revisiting that initial moment will always hold a special place in my heart.
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How to Train Your Dragon opens in movie theaters nationwide on June 13.
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2025-06-11 22:27