The upcoming live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon is just around the corner, and fans are already excited to see how this project compares to the original animated movie that it’s based upon. There will undoubtedly be differences between the animated and live-action versions of How To Train Your Dragon, but there should also be some rewarding familiarities for returning fans of the franchise. One of these is already evident from the trailer: the return of Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast, the father of the film’s young protagonist, Hiccup.

The announcement that Gerard Butler would be returning to the How To Train Your Dragon franchise was a hugely exciting one, and judging by the film’s trailers and early reactions, it’s one that’s certainly going to pay off. With Universal already banking on a live-action How To Train Your Dragon franchise happening with the early sequel announcement, Butler’s return feels like a very secure way of ensuring at least some level of commercial success. That’s why it’s so surprising to realize that he almost wasn’t involved in the movie.

How To Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Remake Nearly Recast Stoick Instead Of Bringing Back Gerard Butler

Different Actors Were Originally Being Considered For The Role

The return of Gerard Butler as Stoick is one of How To Train Your Dragon’s most exciting features, as he’s the only person from the animated movies to come back. While the production moved to recast every other main character for the upcoming remake, there was some interest in bringing Butler back from the early stages. Unfortunately, there were major scheduling issues at play that would’ve made Butler’s return slow down the filming process. The actor has even revealed that he was initially considered too “small” to play the Viking in live-action.

The character of Stoick is one of How To Train Your Dragon’s most interesting figures, starting out as a huge hindrance to Hiccup because he doesn’t believe that his son is strong enough to be the Viking that he wants. Although the pair ultimately overcame their differences, creating one of the series’ most compelling relationships, it’s ultimately very ironic that Butler was almost rejected for this role for the very same reasons that Stoick initially disowns Hiccup in the first movie. Butler commented on almost leaving How To Train Your Dragon with the following admission:

Immediately, I went, “Wait a minute, wait a minute.” What are you saying here?… Dean fought really hard to get me, when maybe the studio was saying, “Do we not get somebody bigger?

How To Train Your Dragon Replacing Gerard Butler As Stoick Would’ve Been A Huge Mistake

He Already Embodied The Character Once Perfectly

Ultimately, it’s great news that Gerard Butler and director Dean DeBlois managed to convince the studio to give him a chance. He’s already shaping up to be the highlight of this much-anticipated remake. His performance in the original animated movie was arguably the best part of the whole project, as he brought an extremely vulnerable and engaging side to the character that many actors could have glossed over. He needs to be intimidating, yes, but there’s also an element of parental care that elevates Hiccup and Stoick’s relationship beyond what’s written on the page.

Butler clearly understands this, and it would be surprising if he didn’t also bring this to the upcoming remake. In live-action, there’s more opportunity for this relationship to blossom and grow into new dimensions that were not seen in animation. Their bond can feel closer and more real thanks to the additional screentime possible through How To Train Your Dragon‘s longer runtime, so it makes sense to give this role to somebody who clearly understands all the nuances of the character already.

How To Train Your Dragon is one of the most anticipated summer movies of 2025, not just because of how many new audiences it will introduce to this franchise, but also because of how rewarding it will be for returning fans who want to see this story told in a totally new and refreshing way. Butler’s presence serves as a helpful connection to the animated movies; it’s more than an Easter egg, but rather a tangible detail that highlights the remake’s loyalty to the original property.

Gerard Butler’s Stoick Return Already Looks Like One Of How To Train Your Dragon’s Best Elements

The Actor Could Really Elevate The Remake Beyond Its Script

There are plenty of things to look forward to regarding the How To Train Your Dragon remake; the refreshing take on Hiccup and Toothless’ storyline, the exciting visual effects that bring these unique dragons to live-action, and even the minor ways in which the new format will allow for certain narrative changes. However, Butler’s return is one of the most tangible of these exciting features, and his performance is what’s been receiving the most praise throughout early reactions to the film.

Many early viewers have praised Butler’s ability to bring such a powerful and layered performance to live-action, which requires an entirely different skillset from animated voice performances. Gerard Butler may be known for his action movies and dramatic thrillers, but there’s something uniquely impressive about seeing him tackle a more complex and nuanced character in a way that’s accessible to the entire family.

How To Train Your Dragon Should Benefit From Gerard Butler’s Involvement

The Actor Knows This Character Better Than Anybody Else

The most obvious benefit of Gerard Butler’s return to How To Train Your Dragon is that it firmly connects this live-action remake to the animated movie that preceded it, and it’ll hopefully incite many long-time fans of this franchise to check out the new movie. If there hadn’t been any returning cast members, viewers may have felt too disconnected from this remake to actually care about it. After all, it’s the exact same story, just with some aesthetic and visual differences and added story beats.

However, by bringing Gerard Butler back for this iconic role, How To Train Your Dragon gives fans a concrete reason to watch the new movie. Seeing Butler’s facial expressions and feeling his screen presence should bring a whole new dimension to the character of Stoick the Vast, which could retroactively add layers and complexities to the actor’s original voice performance. This wouldn’t have been the case if somebody else had been hired for the role, and it’s much more important than Butler being “smaller” than the character he’s playing.