The search term “How to Train Your Dragon 4” refers not to a fourth animated sequel, but to the 2025 live-action remake of the original 2010 film. DreamWorks Animation’s first live-action production adapts the franchise opener with an entirely new cast, save for one notable exception from the original voice ensemble.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, who wrote and helmed the animated trilogy, this adaptation filmed in Northern Ireland during 2024. Universal Pictures released the project in June 2025, fifteen years after the animated original first introduced audiences to the Viking village of Berk and its dragon population.
What is the Full Cast of How to Train Your Dragon 4?
- Only Gerard Butler returns from the original animated voice cast, reprising his role as Stoick the Vast
- All other principal characters feature new actors in live-action versions of the roles
- The production marks DreamWorks Animation’s inaugural live-action feature
- Dragons remain fully computer-generated with no voice cast announced for Toothless or other creatures
- Composer John Powell returns from the animated trilogy to score the remake
- Filming took place entirely in Belfast, Northern Ireland, between January and May 2024
- A sequel based on the second animated film has already been scheduled for June 2027
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Mason Thames | Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III |
| Nico Parker | Astrid Hofferson |
| Gerard Butler | Stoick the Vast |
| Nick Frost | Gobber the Belch |
| Julian Dennison | Fishlegs Ingerman |
| Gabriel Howell | Snotlout Jorgenson |
| Bronwyn James | Ruffnut Thorston |
| Harry Trevaldwyn | Tuffnut Thorston |
| Peter Serafinowicz | Spitelout Jorgenson |
| Ruth Codd | Phlegma the Fierce |
Who Plays the Main Characters in How to Train Your Dragon 4?
Mason Thames as Hiccup
Mason Thames assumes the central role of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the Viking teenager who defies tradition by befriending rather than slaying dragons. Thames, announced in May 2023, brings a live-action physicality to a character originally voiced by Jay Baruchel in the animated trilogy.
Nico Parker as Astrid
Nico Parker portrays Astrid Hofferson, the fierce warrior and Hiccup’s companion. Cast alongside Thames in May 2023, Parker steps into a role that America Ferrera voiced in the animated predecessors. The character retains her status as a formidable dragon rider within the Berk community.
Gerard Butler as Stoick
Gerard Butler provides continuity between animation and live-action as Stoick the Vast, Hiccup’s father and the village chieftain. Butler voiced the character throughout the original trilogy and joined the live-action production in January 2024, marking the sole instance of an original cast member reprising their role physically.
The Dragon Riding Academy
Julian Dennison appears as Fishlegs Ingerman, the dragon knowledge enthusiast, while Gabriel Howell plays the boastful Snotlout Jorgenson. The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston are portrayed by Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn respectively. These actors comprise the younger generation of Viking warriors training alongside Hiccup.
Gerard Butler remains the only actor to bridge both the animated and live-action iterations of the franchise. All other roles have been recast with new performers, with no cameo appearances confirmed from the original voice ensemble as of June 2025.
Is There Actually a How to Train Your Dragon 4?
Understanding the Live-Action Remake
No fourth animated instalment exists. The animated trilogy concluded with How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World in 2019. The 2025 release is a live-action reimagining of the original 2010 story, not a continuation of the narrative. Universal Pictures developed this adaptation following a February 2023 announcement, aiming to retell the initial story with photorealistic dragons and human actors.
The Animated Trilogy Conclusion
DreamWorks concluded Hiccup and Toothless’s animated narrative definitively in the third film. The live-action project therefore revisits the origin story rather than advancing the timeline. This distinction explains the “4” designation in search queries, as audiences conflate the remake with a numerical sequel.
When and Where Was the How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Film Produced?
Release Schedule
The remake premiered in June 2025. However, planning has already advanced for subsequent entries. At CinemaCon in April 2025, Universal announced a live-action adaptation of the second animated film, How to Train Your Dragon 2, scheduled for release on 11 June 2027. Production listings confirm this sequel will film in London beginning January 2026.
Principal Photography
Cameras rolled in Belfast, Northern Ireland, from January through May 2024. The location provided the rugged coastal scenery standing in for the fictional Isle of Berk. Dean DeBlois utilised practical sets combined with CGI augmentation to realise the Viking village and its dragon inhabitants.
Belfast, Northern Ireland served as the primary filming location for the 2025 remake. The production wrapped principal photography in May 2024 after four months of shooting.
The 2027 release will adapt the second animated film’s story, not create original narrative material. It continues the live-action remake series rather than producing a fourth original chapter.
How Did the Casting Announcements Unfold?
- : Universal Pictures confirms live-action adaptation in development
- : Mason Thames and Nico Parker announced as Hiccup and Astrid
- : Gerard Butler joins cast alongside Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn
- : Filming commences in Belfast
- : Ruth Codd cast as Phlegma the Fierce
- : Principal photography concludes
- : Sequel to remake announced for 2027 release
What Remains Confirmed or Uncertain?
| Established Facts | Unconfirmed Details |
|---|---|
| Live-action remake releasing June 2025 | Voice cast for dragon characters (Toothless, Stormfly, etc.) |
| Principal cast of ten actors confirmed | Potential cameo appearances from original voice actors |
| Gerard Butler reprising Stoick | Full runtime and final edit details |
| Dean DeBlois directing and writing | Specific visual effects vendors beyond general CGI credits |
| John Powell returning as composer | Whether the 2027 sequel will retain the same human cast |
| Filming completed in Belfast | Home media release dates |
How Does the New Cast Compare to the Original Voice Performers?
The transition from animation to live-action necessitates a complete recasting of physical roles. Where Jay Baruchel provided Hiccup’s voice with a distinctive cadence in the original trilogy, Mason Thames embodies the character physically. Similarly, Nico Parker takes on Astrid’s warrior presence, a role America Ferrera defined vocally across three animated features.
During press interviews in June 2025, the live-action performers expressed admiration for their animated predecessors and interest in meeting them, though no such meetings had occurred by the time of the film’s release. This generational handover highlights the fifteen-year gap between the original’s debut and the remake’s arrival.
The Cast Of Moana 2 – Voice Cast & New Talent Insights demonstrates similar recasting strategies in modern franchise management, where legacy properties balance nostalgia with fresh interpretation.
What Have the Filmmakers Said About the Production?
Dean DeBlois has emphasised his intent to honour the original story while utilising live-action cinematography and advanced CGI to realise the dragons photorealistically. His return as both writer and director ensures narrative consistency with his earlier vision, despite the change in medium.
The live-action cast expressed interest in meeting the original voice actors but had not yet done so at the time of the June 2025 interviews.
— Press interviews, June 2025
Summary of the How to Train Your Dragon 2025 Cast
The 2025 live-action adaptation features Mason Thames and Nico Parker as the young leads, supported by a new ensemble of Viking teens and anchored by Gerard Butler’s return as Stoick. With Dean DeBlois and John Powell maintaining creative continuity from the animated trilogy, the production represents a full recasting of the original 2010 story rather than a numerical sequel. The Cast Of Spider-man: Across The Spider-verse illustrates similar franchise evolution techniques in contemporary cinema.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who plays Gobber in the live-action remake?
Nick Frost portrays Gobber the Belch, the village’s blacksmith and dragon-training instructor. He was announced alongside Gerard Butler in January 2024.
Will the original voice actors appear in cameo roles?
As of the June 2025 release, no cameo appearances by Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, or other original voice cast members have been confirmed or appear in the finished film.
Who portrays the Twins in the 2025 film?
Bronwyn James plays Ruffnut Thorston and Harry Trevaldwyn plays her brother Tuffnut. Both were cast in January 2024.
Where was the live-action film shot?
Principal photography occurred in Belfast, Northern Ireland, utilising the region’s dramatic coastlines to represent the fictional Isle of Berk. Filming lasted from January to May 2024.
Is there a sequel planned after the 2025 remake?
Yes. Universal announced a live-action remake of the second animated film in April 2025, scheduled for release on 11 June 2027, with filming set to begin in London in January 2026.
Which dragons appear in the live-action version?
Toothless (Night Fury), Stormfly (Deadly Nadder), and other species from the original film appear as CGI creations. No voice performers have been announced for the dragon characters.
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