The live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie is now reality, and the first look at its protagonist has been officially revealed. Previously voiced by Jay Baruchel in the original animated film, The Black Phone star Mason Thames takes over the role in the upcoming remake from director Dean DeBlois. For those hoping for a copy and paste remake, it seems How to Train Your Dragon will faithfully adapt the first film and live up to those expectations.
Empire revealed the first image of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon film of Mason Thames as the main character, Hiccup. For all intents and purposes, it seems like this will be an exact remake of the beloved animated film. Although the titular dragon Toothless is not featured in the image, Hiccup can be seen in his battle gear, ready to battle the mythical creatures. While a trailer is reportedly set to play in theaters soon further revealing the film, this first-look image should do enough to excite fans of the franchise and potentially win over the skeptics of a live-action remake.
Although the image seems to be a one-for-one copy of the original scene, the director behind How to Train Your Dragon does admit that the live-action film does come with its own unique aspects. “It’s so dialled-up in terms of stakes — having a fully credible, photo-real dragon stomping around trying to kill him,” DeBlois said, describing the scene in which Hiccup has to battle the dragon in the arena. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get footage of the sequence sooner rather than later, and see how the live-action adaptation holds up to the original.
Do We Need a ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Live-Action Remake?
While the first image from the How to Train Your Dragon remake is faithful, the question remains if a shot-for-shot remake of an already beloved film is necessary. It’s the same question that the photorealistic The Lion King remake contends with to this day, as well as its upcoming prequel Mufasa. Of course, there are many who probably skipped out on the original animated film due to the format, making the live-action version more attractive to them. However, if you’re already a fan of the animated film series and its TV spinoffs, a remake is probably a lot less enticing for most.
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With all of that said, it’s hard not to get excited about the cast and crew, new and old, comprising the live-action How to Train your Dragon. The film’s supporting cast features Nico Parker as Astrid, Gerard Butler as Stoick, Nick Frost as Gobber, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut, Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut, and Ruth Codd as Phlegma.
Meanwhile, Mason Thames is being propped up as the perfect casting for Hiccup, and it’s hard to disagree so far. To DeBlois, Hiccup as a protagonist “represents all of the oddballs out there, and there are many of us.” For this reason, among others, Thames was cast in the role. “There was a bit of awkwardness, but also a vulnerability to him which [came] with the fact that he was 15 when we were auditioning him.” High praise for someone that will have a lot of expectations on his shoulders.