How To Train Your Dragon: Introducing Live Action Hiccup

Based on Cressida Cowell’s best selling novel of the same name, DreamWorks’ How To Train Your Dragon (2010) was an instant hit – and has become a beloved classic among dragon-loving littlies. Fifteen years and two sequels later, a live action remake is set to hit the cinemas, surely creating a whole new generation of fans. With relative newcomer Mason Thames snapping up the lead role as teenager Hiccup and Gerard Butler reprising his role as Hiccup’s father Stoick the Vast, here’s what to expect – plus when it’ll land in cinemas.

Live Action How To Train Your Dragon: Plot, Cast & More

Mason Thames (right) as Hiccup with his Night Fury dragon, Toothless, in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon, written and directed by Dean DeBlois.

What Will Happen?

The live action How To Train Your Dragon movie is a remake of the 2010 animation, with some scenes recreated shot-for-shot. This means the plot is the same, set in the Viking village of Berk, where 15-year-old Hiccup is deemed too weak to fight the dragons attacking the village – much to the dismay of his chieftain father, Stoick the Vast. But when Hiccup meets and befriends an injured dragon, he may be able to prove his worthiness to his tribe after all.

Is There A Trailer?

Yes, the first How To Train Your Dragon teaser trailer has landed. Watch it below.

Who Will Play Hiccup?

Introducing Mason Thames: Hiccup in the live action remake of How To Train Your Dragon. Best known for leading horror film The Black Phone (2022) – and set to reprise his role in a 2025 sequel – Thames is a 17 year old American actor, born in Dallas, Texas.

Thames’ casting as Hiccup was announced alongside Nico Parker, star of The Last of Us (Joel’s daughter Sarah in that harrowing first episode), who will portray Astrid in How To Train Your Dragon. A rising star, we will also see Parker in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy in 2025.

The Cast

• Mason Thames as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
• Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast
• Nico Parker as Astrid Hofferson
• Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch
• Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman
• Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson
• Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston
• Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston
• Ruth Codd as Phlegma
• Peter Serafinowicz
• Murray McArthur

(from left) Writer-Director Dean DeBlois (left), Gabriel Howell (center) and Nico Parker (right) on the set of Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon.

Where Was How To Train Your Dragon Filmed?

The How To Train Your Dragon remake was filmed in Belfast and around Northern Ireland’s countryside at the start of this year (January to May 2024) after delays due to SAG-AFTRA strikes. Of course, lots of special effects and sets were used for filming, too.

Release Date

How To Train Your Dragon will land in cinemas on 13 June 2025.

Where Is How To Train Your Dragon Streaming?

Fancy revisiting the original animation? How To Train Your Dragon is available to rent on Amazon, Apple, Sky Movies and more.