How To Practice Your Dragon premiered at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this month, and many followers of the unique Dreamworks pic raved in regards to the new film bringing some huge animated moments to life. Amongst its variations is an (virtually) solely new forged, although the reside motion remake did convey again Gerard Butler to play Stoick the Huge. And I’ve to say, he appeared to be having one of the best time doing it.
Butler got here onstage forward of the premiere together with director Dean DeBlois to advertise the summer season 2025 film launch. The actor opened up about re-joining the franchise at CinemaCon 2025, joking that Stoick hadn’t aged—and there’s a really 2025 motive the Viking zaddy appears so good in reside motion.
Butler: “The franchise has been a part of my life for 15 years, however he [Stoick] hasn’t aged a bit.”
Director Dean DeBlois: “The magic of films.”
Butler: “and Ozempic.”
Butler (additionally joking): “…I simply can’t consider every other actor who might do it justice.”
Not like plenty of the then-younger actors like America Ferrera and Jay Baruchel, who’ve aged out of their roles (each are of their forties now), Butler was 41 when he performed Stoick the primary time on the large display screen, voicing the character within the animated 2010 movie. Now he’s 55, however conceivably appears like he might nonetheless be within the right age vary to be Hiccup’s dad. Per the actor, it’s the “Ozempic” that’s actually been serving to.
I’m truthfully glad the studio acquired Gerard Butler again for the brand new film and introduced him to Common’s CinemaCon 2025 occasion. The characters are clearly all nonetheless acquainted, no matter being performed by new actors. Nevertheless, it’s very nice for that connective thread to be there to usher the franchise into this new period.
I additionally know Butler was joking when he mentioned onstage he “can’t consider every other actor” who can be a match for the function, however there’s nonetheless a germ of reality to that. Stoick was in all probability a enjoyable character to voice again in 2010, however attending to put on the large beard and the Viking helmet and play the over-the-top character once more appears prefer it was a blast. … a blast of scorching dragon air that’s.
In all actuality, Butler beforehand mentioned the entire getup in reside motion was just like the “5 items of hell,” which is a little bit shocking given how a lot enjoyable he is having onscreen (and onstage). His entire take type of jogs my memory of a time when the late Ray Stevenson additionally wore an analogous getup for a Marvel film and he advised me as soon as in an interview he needed to put on an ice pack to maintain cool.
Look, it is laborious being a bearded surprise, however the excellent news is that whereas Common and Dreamworks already introduced a second reside motion film within the works, there’s already a blueprint for that second film, and which means Butler will not have to hold onto the fur coat and Viking beard perpetually.