Gerard Butler’s Early Review of How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake Praises Film Despite Filming Challenges

Fans of the beloved franchise may harbor some reservations regarding the upcoming movie, yet Gerard Butler offers a refreshing perspective on the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon. As one of the few members reprising his role from the original animated trilogy, Butler returns to embody Stoick the Vast, Hiccup’s father and chieftain of Berk, the Viking village at the story’s heart. The cast also features Mason Thames as Hiccup, alongside talented actors such as Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Tevaldwyn.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight while promoting Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, Butler shared insights about the live-action remake. He humorously described the challenge of getting fitted for Stoick’s elaborate hair prosthetics, but he also provided an enthusiastic early review of the film despite having only seen it sans special effects. Here’s what he had to say:

No! It was like five pieces of hell. Hours every day and then another hour just to get into the costume. I’d always wondered making those movies, you know, seeing the animated version, “What would it be like to actually have to be that size? To be that character and to live?” Because, for me, one of the great things about being an actor is you get to live in those other worlds, but you don’t when it’s animated. But now they’ve made the live-action, and suddenly you’re in those arenas, and you’re in that Viking village. The movie’s incredible. I’ve seen it without effects. It’s amazing. But I cannot wait for the world to see it.

Implications for the How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake

Practical Effects and Production Insights

As the release date for How to Train Your Dragon draws closer—only five months away—it’s noteworthy that Butler has already had a chance to see the film in its entirety. This could be attributed to his ongoing involvement with additional dialogue recording (ADR) during the post-production phase or because he received a rough cut following the film’s completion eight months ago.

Title	RT Critic Score	RT Audience Score	Box Office
How to Train Your Dragon	99%	91%	$494.9 Million
How to Train Your Dragon 2	92%	90%	$621.5 Million
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World	90%	87%	$521.8 Million

Another significant insight from Butler’s remarks highlights the practical approach taken by returning writer/director Dean DeBlois. Despite the film’s grand scale and the inclusion of numerous fantastical elements, DeBlois has opted for a production style that heavily emphasizes practical effects. Behind-the-scenes footage showcases meticulously crafted sets, reinforcing Butler’s input and the effort taken to authentically capture the Viking setting.

Insights from Butler’s Review of the How To Train Your Dragon Remake

Positive Indicators for the Movie’s Prospects

Nico Parker as Astrid and Mason Thames as Hiccup

Live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon

How To Train Your Dragon live-action scene

Another scene from the live-action How To Train Your Dragon

Gerard Butler in How To Train Your Dragon

While much remains to be unveiled about the remake, Butler’s positive feedback serves as an encouraging development for How to Train Your Dragon. Given Butler’s unique insight as a member of the original trilogy’s cast, his excitement is particularly compelling. His enthusiasm demonstrates that DeBlois has successfully prioritized the emotional depth of the characters, which bodes well for audience reception. The anticipation builds as fans eagerly await the film’s release after Butler’s exuberant endorsement.

Source: ET/TikTok

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