The live-action version ofHow to Train Your Dragondoesn’t drop until June, butGerard Butleris already feeling the life-changing effects of starring in the upcoming adventure based on the beloved DreamWorks animated hit. Butler, who recently spoke to MovieWeb about his latest film,Den of Thieves 2: Pantera,was candid aboutreprising the role of Stoick the Vastin the outing, noting: “It’s going to be a game-changer. Yeah, I’m ready. I’ll keep my feet firmly on the ground on that one.” He added:
“I can say it has just been a joy to be a part of these movies, to tell those stories, and see them being received by the public. And to work with Dean DeBlois, the director, and with all this amazing crew, then to see it come out —part of the reason I got into this business is knowing that you’re taking magic and magical worlds, feelings, and ideas that maybe will entrance people and help them in their own lives."
“Even if it’s just to escape,” he quickly added. “This is going to bring all that.It’s going to be an unforgettable classic. I’m just honored to be a part of it.”Fans will no doubt honor Butler, too, as well as the stellar cast, which features Mason Thames (as Hiccup, Stoick’s son), Nico Parker (Astrid),Nick Frost (Gobber), Julian Dennison (Fishlegs), Gabriel Howell (Snotlout), Bronwyn James (Ruffnut), Harry Trevaldwyn (Tuffnut), and Ruth Codd (Phlegma).you’re able to watch Gerard Butler get giddy discussing the film in his MovieWeb interview (alongside O’Shea Jackson Jr.); his discussion ofHow to Train Your Dragonbegins at 3:34.
Will 2025’s ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Slay the Box Office Again?
When it comes toHow to Train Your Dragon,it’s hard to deny the allure. The original 2010 animated film became a blockbuster, grabbing nearly $500,000 in gross. The film also earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. Two wildly successful sequels followed (in 2014 and 2019), then a gaggle of television spin-offs and short films. That adds up to a billion-dollar coup for DreamWorks Animation. The new film tracks the original’s premise: a young Viking eager to hunt dragons unexpectedly becomes a friend of a young dragon. No doubt the live-action version will take the franchise to new heights.
Speaking of franchises, it looks like Butler is establishing yet another one by way ofDen of Thieves 2: Pantera.TheChristian Gudegast-directed action thrillerfinds Butler returning as Big Nick, who’s back on the hunt for Donnie (O’Shea Jackson Jr.). This time around, the drama unfolds in Europe, where diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia vie for power. Toss in an intricate heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange and a slew of slick action scenes, and you’ve got yourself a go-to winter thriller.Den of Thieves 2: Panterahits theaters January 10.How to Train Your Dragoncomes to theaters on June 03, 2025.
