Live-action stars vs. animated characters

Mason Thames as Hiccup

Mason Thames, who led The Black Phone alongside Ethan Hawke, plays protagonist Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, a young blacksmith apprentice who befriends the dangerous dragon Toothless despite the wishes of his father, the village chief.

Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movies.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Thames explained his lasting connection to the character. “We’re not that different. No, not really,” he said. “When I go to sleep at night, in my dreams I still walk like Hiccup, he’s still there, he won’t leave me.”

Nico Parker as Astrid

Dumbo and The Last of Us star Nico Parker portrays Astrid Hofferson, Hiccup’s spunky love interest. The character was voiced by America Ferrera in the animated trilogy. Parker is the daughter of Thandiwe Newton and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again director Ol Parker.

Speaking with The Times of London, Parker addressed backlash to her being cast as Astrid, a character originally portrayed with blonde hair and blue eyes.

“There’s some people that really love the animated movies and really want to see an exact play-by-play of that film, and I hope that you can watch [the new version] and find something that you love about it, regardless,” she said. “But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don’t care.”

Gerard Butler as Stoick

300 and Olympus Has Fallen star Gerard Butler plays Stoick the Vast, the courageous leader of Berk and the distant father of Hiccup. Butler also voiced Stoick in the animated movies, and he’s the only cast member to reprise his role from the original movies in live action.

The new film is dedicated to Butler’s late mother, who died in February at age 81, according to PEOPLE. “I was so excited for her to see it, but I had a feeling she wasn’t going to make it. So [writer-director Dean DeBlois] very kindly dedicated the movie to her,” the actor said in a recent interview.

Nick Frost as Gobber

Nick Frost, star of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, plays Gobber the Belch, the village blacksmith who mentors Hiccup and his friends in their dragon-training escapades.

Craig Ferguson provided the voice of Gobber in the original movie.

Julian Dennison as Fishlegs

Julian Dennison, who made waves in Hunt for the Wilderpeople and later starred in blockbusters like Deadpool 2 and Godzilla vs. Kong, portrays Fishlegs Ingerman, an earnest young dragon lover who’s friendly with Hiccup.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse voiced Fishlegs in the animated films.

Gabriel Howell as Snotlout

Gabriel Howell, who previously appeared in the Netflix series Bodies, portrays Snotlout Jorgenson, one of Hiccup’s more antagonistic and arrogant acquaintances.

Jonah Hill voiced Snotlout in the animated movies.

Bronwyn James as Ruffnut

Bronwyn James, who appeared in The Dig and Lockwood & Co. on Netflix, plays Ruffnut Thorston, one-half of a duo of irritating twins that train dragons alongside Hiccup and Astrid.

Kristen Wiig provided the original voice of Ruffnut.

Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut

Harry Trevaldwyn, whose previous projects include The Bubble and The King, portrays Tuffnut Thorston, the other half of the aforementioned twin duo.

Tuffnut was voiced by T.J. Miller in the first two animated movies, while comedian Justin Rupple took over the part in 2019’s The Hidden World.

Ruth Codd as Phlegma

Ruth Codd, a TikTok-star-turned-actress who made a memorable appearance in The Fall of the House of Usher, plays Phlegma the Fierce, a female villager in Berk. Ashley Jensen voiced Phlegma in the original film.