As Hiccup, the 17-year-old actor is shouldering the weight of Universal’s new live-action franchise — and living out his childhood fantasy.

On the set of the live-action movie, Toothless and the other dragons existed as large puppets with simple functions, operated by a team of master puppeteers led by Tom Wilton, a performer who had worked on the “War Horse” stage play.

Costar Mason Thames, who stars as Hiccup in the 2025 live-action remake, says Gerard Butler personified "the giant brute force that Stoick is" Gerard Butler reprises his How to Train Your Dragon role of Stoick the Vast in the 2025 live-action remake Butler previously voiced the character for the franchise's animated films Mason Thames,

Universal's 'How to Train Your Dragon' is opening to $82.5M, the best in the franchise, while A24's 'Materialists' is looking at $11M+.

From busted chins to axes in the face to COVID, stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, and director Dean DeBlois show off their mementos working with "dragons."

Universal’s “How to Train Your Dragon” spread its wings across Friday and preview screenings with $35.6 million from 4,356 North American locations. That’s the fourth-biggest opening day figure of 2025,