Gerard Butler Compares Live-Action How To Train Your Dragon To Animated Movie

Gerard Butler has shared exciting updates about the upcoming live-action How To Train Your Dragon, teasing a more dramatic and immersive experience than the animated original. Based on Cressida Cowell’s book series, the beloved franchise debuted in 2010 with an animated film that follows Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless, as they bridge the gap between Vikings and dragons. The film became a critical and commercial success, spawning two sequels, multiple short films, and several TV series. Now, Butler will reprise his role as Hiccup’s father, Stoick, in the upcoming How To Train Your Dragon live-action remake, which he describes as a completely different experience from the animated movies.

In a recent interview with The Direct, Butler revealed how the transition from animation to live-action has increased the emotional and visual stakes, making the film feel more immersive. He said, “When a dragon is breathing fire over a bunch of actual Viking men and women running, it feels a lot more scary than when it was animated.” Read his full comments below:

I just saw a rough cut. So there really were maybe 20% special effects done. And I get goosebumps when I think about it. It was so amazing and so powerful. And then you see parts of it where they are closer to being done, and your jaw just drops.

And the best way for me to describe it is, I made three of those movies over many years, and I always wondered, I love the animated movies, but I always wondered, ‘God, what if this was real? What if we were really there, real people, real dragons?’ And we had a chance to do that, to make it real. And I think that is one of the main differences.

When a dragon is breathing fire over a bunch of actual Viking men and women running, it feels a lot more scary than when it was animated. You have a little more you can distance yourself, but this feels much more involved and just immersive…

I’m so excited to see how it is when it’s finished because I think every second is going to be precious.

What This Means For The How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action

A Remake That Captures The Original Magic

Butler’s comments hint that the film is gearing up to provide a more visceral and emotional experience. The live-action format allows for more realistic visuals and a different type of performance from the actors, which could make the story’s dramatic moments hit even harder. With Dean DeBlois, co-director and co-writer for the animated trilogy, at the helm of the live-action How To Train Your Dragon, audiences can expect a faithful adaptation that captures the original’s magic while offering a fresh, more realistic take on the beloved story.

Mason Thames as Hiccup touches Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon 2025

How To Train Your Dragon Could Become A New Generation’s Lord Of The Rings

The upcoming live-action How To Train Your Dragon could build on the established lore and series’ success to become a successor to Lord of the Rings.

The film’s special effects will be a key element in bringing the dragons to life. While the animated films were praised for their stunning visuals, witnessing the “real” dragons interact with humans offers an entirely new level of immersion. As Butler highlighted, the rough-cut special effects are already impressive, suggesting that the final product is aiming to be a visual stunner. Scenes like the dragon battles or special moments between Hiccup and Toothless might resonate more deeply with audiences. Additionally, the live-action adaptation is also an opportunity to explore the Viking world and the intricacies of Berk’s culture in richer detail.

Expectations Are High For The Upcoming Remake

A dragon breathing fire in the training arena in How to Train Your Dragon

Gerard Butler’s excitement for the live-action How To Train Your Dragon is palpable. His comments highlight the film’s goal of honoring the spirit of the original while offering a new, more intense take on the tales so many know and love. The upcoming film has the opportunity to appeal to both longtime fans of the franchise and new audiences who may be drawn in by the realistic visuals and will be introduced to the famous story via the live-action remake. It won’t be long before we know how the How To Train Your Dragon live-action remake is received, either, as it’s set to come out in theaters on June 13, 2025.

Source: The Direct