How To Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Remake Gets Glowing Early Review From Gerard Butler (Despite 1 Filming Hassle)

While there may still be some uncertainty from fans of the franchise about the movie, Gerard Butler has some very positive things to say about the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake. Butler is one of the few creatives from the original animated trilogy to be returning for the remake, reprising his role as Stoick the Vast, father to protagonist Hiccup and chieftain of the Viking village of Berk. Alongside Butler, the How to Train Your Dragon cast includes Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James and Harry Tevaldwyn.

During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight for the upcoming Den of Thieves 2: PanteraButler was asked what he could share about the live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake. He began by humorously acknowledging how challenging it was to be fitted with Stoick’s various hair prosthetics, though went on to share a very glowing early review for the filmeven in spite of having seen it without its effects. Check out what Butler shared below:

No! It was like five pieces of hell. Hours everyday 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.

What This Means For The How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake

The Movie Did A Lot Practically

Considering How to Train Your Dragon‘s release is still a little over five months away, it may come as something of a surprise that Butler has already seen it in its entirety. However, there are two likely reasons why he’s seen the movie already, the first of which, and the more likely, is that he’s been involved in various forms of ADR throughout the movie’s post-productionhence why he’s seen it without effects. The other is that, with filming having wrapped nearly eight months ago, he may have been given a rough cut just to peruse it.

Regardless of how he got the chance to watch it, Butler’s How to Train Your Dragon review is sure to come as a hopeful sign of the movie’s success. There has already been some division among fans of the original movies about the need for a live-action remakeparticularly one that looks to be going through some scenes in the same manner as the original. Additionally, given how consistently well-received the original How to Train Your Dragon trilogy was, the remake has a high bar to surpass. Check out how the animated movies compared on Rotten Tomatoes and at the box office below:

The other major takeaway from Butler’s review is that returning writer/director Dean DeBlois has taken a very practical approach to his live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake. Given the movie’s bigger scale and extensive roster of dinosaurs, it would be understandable if he elected to go for a more CGI-heavy approach to his production. However, between a behind-the-scenes featurette showcasing some of the thoroughly practical sets, and Butler’s own annoyances from the hair prosthetics, it seems no expense was spared to faithfully recreate the Viking world.

Our Take On Butler’s How To Train Your Dragon Remake Review

Another Promising Sign For The Movie’s Chances

While there’s still much to be seen of the remake, Butler’s excited review makes for another promising step forward for How to Train Your Dragon. If there was any cast member’s opinion that should be valued for the remake, it’s the only actor who was actually involved in the original trilogy of movies. Plus, given Butler is enthusiastic about the movie without having seen it with completed effects, it goes to show that DeBlois has clearly remembered the heart of the movie lies in its characters, and I’m more thrilled to see it after Butler’s reaction.

Source: ET/TikTok