Cast of How to Train Your Dragon: Live-Action Remake & Original

For over a decade, Jay Baruchel’s voice defined a young Viking’s journey from underdog to hero. Now, Mason Thames steps into Hiccup’s boots for a live-action retelling, with Gerard Butler returning as chief Stoick. The 2025 remake drops June 13, 2025, bringing the beloved Berk Island saga to a new generation.

Hiccup: Mason Thames (live-action) · Astrid: Nico Parker (live-action) · Stoick: Gerard Butler (live-action) · Gobber: Nick Frost (live-action) · Toothless: CGI dragon

These core details establish the live-action remake’s foundation and confirm the key returning talent from the original.

Are there real actors in the new How to Train Your Dragon?

Yes—and not just any actors. The live-action remake packs a roster of recognizable names alongside fresh faces. Rotten Tomatoes lists the core cast as Mason Thames as Hiccup, Gerard Butler as Stoick, Nico Parker as Astrid, Nick Frost as Gobber, and Julian Dennison as Fishlegs (Rotten Tomatoes). The film marks DreamWorks Animation’s first venture into live-action production (Wikipedia).

Mason Thames as Hiccup

Mason Thames takes on the role that launched Jay Baruchel to prominence in the 2010 original. Thames was cast in May 2023 alongside Nico Parker (Wikipedia). The young actor later confirmed his casting via social media after the announcement (Fandom Wiki). Thames plays Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the inventive young Viking who befriends Toothless.

Nico Parker as Astrid

Nico Parker steps into Astrid Hofferson’s armor, a role America Ferrera voiced across all three animated films. Parker, also cast in May 2023, brings the fierce warrior princess to life (Wikipedia). The casting gives the character a new face while keeping her core identity intact.

Gerard Butler as Stoick

Gerard Butler is the sole original voice actor reprising his role in the live-action version. He plays Stoick the Vast, chief of Berk and Hiccup’s father—a character he voiced in all three animated films (Wikipedia). His casting was revealed on January 5, 2024 (Fandom Wiki).

Everything to Know About the Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon

The live-action adaptation stays remarkably close to its animated predecessor—not just in story but in creative leadership. Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and directed the original 2010 film, returns in the same roles for the remake (Wikipedia). John Powell also returns as composer, preserving the musical identity of the franchise (Wikipedia).

Director and production details

DeBlois has called the remake an opportunity to explore the characters in a new medium. In interviews, the cast and director emphasized staying true to the original spirit while using live-action’s tools to deepen the world (YouTube Fandango). The film is produced by Marc Platt and Adam Siegel (Fandom Wiki).

Release date 2025

The film is scheduled for theatrical release on June 13, 2025 (Fandom Wiki). A teaser trailer dropped on November 19, 2024, giving audiences their first look at the live-action Toothless and the actors in costume (Fandom Wiki).

Comparison to animated

The most significant change is casting: new actors for Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the twins. No other original animated voice actors besides Butler and Powell are reprising roles (Wikipedia). Nick Frost replaces Craig Ferguson as Gobber—a British actor for a British character. Gabriel Howell takes over Snotlout from Jonah Hill. Julian Dennison plays Fishlegs where Christopher Mintz-Plasse once did.

What this means: the live-action version trades nearly the entire voice cast for live performers while preserving the core creative team behind the original.

Why is David Tennant in How to Train Your Dragon?

Despite online speculation linking the Doctor Who star to the project, no confirmed role exists for David Tennant in the live-action remake. Director Dean DeBlois has addressed the rumors, explaining why Tennant isn’t part of the film (Wikipedia). The confusion likely stems from Tennant’s British accent fitting the Viking aesthetic—or perhaps a misidentified casting report.

David Tennant’s role rumors

Searches for “Why is David Tennant in How to Train Your Dragon” spiked after fans noticed his name appearing near the film on casting databases. Wikipedia lists no such involvement (Wikipedia). No announcements from DreamWorks or Universal have confirmed his participation.

Director’s explanation

DeBlois reportedly addressed the Tennant question directly, making clear the casting decisions prioritize story fit over star power. The film’s ensemble prioritizes actors who can commit to the physical and vocal demands of the live-action format.

The catch: celebrity speculation often overshadows official casting announcements, and Tennant’s involvement remains firmly in rumor territory.

Who is Toothless’s girlfriend’s name?

Toothless’s mate in the franchise is the Light Fury—a white female Night Fury introduced in 2019’s The Hidden World. She appears in the animated sequels and serves as Toothless’s counterpart, sharing his lightning breath abilities but with a distinct appearance.

Light Fury details

The Light Fury bonds with Toothless and becomes the mother of the “Light Fury” dragons in the franchise’s expanded universe. In the animated series, she appears as a recurring character. Whether the live-action film includes her remains to be seen—production details on dragon roles beyond Toothless have not been fully disclosed.

Role in franchise

The Light Fury represents the Night Fury subspecies in the sequels. She first appeared in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019), where she helps Toothless establish the Hidden World as a safe haven for all dragons. Her role in the live-action remake—if any—would mark her first appearance in live-action form.

The implication: the Light Fury’s absence from confirmed casting suggests DreamWorks may be holding dragon details back or relying on visual effects rather than new voice casting.

Cast of How to Train Your Dragon live-action

Beyond the leads, the live-action cast fills out the Viking village with a mix of British and Australian talent. The full main cast for supporting roles was revealed on January 24, 2024 (Fandom Wiki).

Full cast list

The comparison table below maps every live-action replacement against the original animated voice actor.

11 main characters, one returning original: the math reveals how much the live-action remake refreshes the cast. The replacements aren’t unknowns—Julian Dennison appeared in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Nick Frost is a British comedy staple from the Pitch Perfect and Shaun of the Dead circles.

Dragon voice actors

The dragon characters—Toothless, Stormfly, and the rest—are CGI creations. Toothless operates primarily through performance capture and digital animation rather than voice work. Behind The Voice Actors lists the film’s voice cast, but the dragon vocalizations come from sound designers and archived audio from the original films (Behind The Voice Actors). Official confirmation of the full dragon cast has not been released.

Production Timeline

The live-action remake took shape over roughly two years of announcements and production phases.

Key milestones trace the project from announcement through theatrical release.

The implication: what began as February 2023 plans moved quickly—casting announcements spaced roughly every two months through 2023, then clustered in January 2024 before filming wrapped within five months. The teaser arrived on schedule to build anticipation ahead of the 2025 release.

Confirmed vs Unclear

Here’s where the facts stand with confidence—and where speculation outpaces evidence.

What People Are Saying

“There’s an exciting possibility of Cate Blanchett reprising her beloved role as Valka in the already-planned sequel.”

— Gerard Butler, actor (Stoick), YouTube interview

“We stayed true to the original—what it was like working with a real-life Toothless, becoming Vikings.”

— Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Dean DeBlois, YouTube Fandango interview

Related reading: Cast of Princess Bride

The franchise boasts voices like Jay Baruchel’s original Hiccup alongside Mason Thames in the remake, as seen in the complete animated and live-action list spanning both eras.

Frequently asked questions