Dean DeBlois, the director of both the animated and 2025 live-action versions of How to Train Your Dragon, explains why original cast member David Tennant wasn’t offered to reprise his role in the new movie. The actor lent his voice to Spitelout, a tall, muscular Viking who is a warrior of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe, in the rest of the franchise. However, he didn’t return for the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, which is now in theaters. Instead, the character is played by Peter Serafinowicz.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, DeBlois addressed whether he has considered any other original cast members aside from Gerard Butler for roles in the 2025 live-action remake. The director complimented Tennant and “felt embarrᴀssed” that they couldn’t find a “big enough role” for him. He further explained that Tennant couldn’t reprise his voice role in the new movie because, physically, the actor isn’t the right fit. However, the filmmaker is open to having Tennant appear in the future if there is a “perfect” role. Read his comment below:
David Tennant is such a talented actor, and I felt embarrᴀssed that we didn’t have a big enough role for him in the animated films. But the character that he played, Spitelout, who is Snotlout ‘s father, is just such a big, brawny, large person that I didn’t think David would physically be the right match for him. Maybe in the future we’ll find the perfect role for him, but he’s such an ingenious actor. When it came to Gerard, he wasn’t even available when we started casting the film. He had back-to-back projects that would’ve made him inaccessible during our shooting schedule. So it was actually the actors’ strike of 2023 that jostled some of those projects around, and suddenly, there was an open window where we could grab him.
What This Means For How To Train Your Dragon Remake
Dean DeBlois Tried To Feature Cast And Crew From The 2010 Movie
Butler is the only returning cast member in DreamWorks’ 2025 live-action remake, and it almost didn’t happen. Aside from the actor’s busy schedule, it was previously revealed that Bulter, despite having voiced the role in the entire franchise, wasn’t the studio’s first choice for Stoick. His return took efforts from both ends, and DeBlois’ comment clarified that if it wasn’t for “an open window,” Stoick might have been played by a different actor in the 2025 movie.
The 2025 How to Train Your Dragon is nostalgic. In fact, Butler and DeBlois are not the only ones from the 2010 original cast and crew. John Powell, who composed the score for the animated film, also returned. In the same interview, the director explained that the composer was the “first one” he called so that they could “give a nostalgic hug” to existing audiences and “open it up for a whole new generation.” It sounds like DeBlois has done everything he could to feature the original band from the 2010 movie for the remake.
Although the sequel is still in the early stages, DeBlois recently spoke about the sequel and the Valka casting, sharing his hopes of getting Blanchett to reprise the role in live-action.
With a sequel to How to Train Your Dragon confirmed, there has been lots of speculation on who could portray Hiccup’s mother, Valka. The role was voiced by Cate Blanchett, who is a two-time Oscar winner. Although the sequel is still in the early stages, DeBlois recently spoke about the sequel and the Valka casting, sharing his hopes of getting Blanchett to reprise the role in live-action. If the Oscar winner does end up accepting the offer, she would be the second cast member from the trilogy to reprise their live-action version.
Our Take On 2025’s How To Train Your Dragon And The Franchise’s Future
David Tennant Could Come Back To How To Train Your Dragon In The Future
The Good Omens actor may have been an excellent choice to voice Spitelout, but he’s not a good physical fit for the live-action version of the character. Forcefully having him reprise the role would result in a loss of authenticity, which wouldn’t work anyway. On the other hand, Tennant would make a brilliant Easter egg for die-hard audiences to spot in the live-action remake.
There is always an opportunity to create a new character for him in a How to Train Your Dragon sequel. While that is an option, it will also ultimately come down to Tennant himself if he is interested or if he has the time to fit it into his schedule. The star is extremely busy with projects like Rivals season 2 and Good Omens, so that would be a major factor. With the sequel listed for a June 2027 release, filming could happen between the end of this year or next year, so if things work out schedule-wise, perhaps a Tennant appearance is still in the cards.
Source: THR
