Gerard Butler is reprising his animated role as Chief Stoick in the upcoming live-action adaptation ofHow to Train Your Dragon. This is an unusual thing for actors to do, but the first trailer forHow to Train Your Dragonproves that no one could have replaced Butler as Stoick. The plot of theupcomingHow to Train Your Dragonadaptationwill follow Hiccup, a Norse teenager who, instead of killing a dragon, as his people do, befriends an injured dragon and names him Toothless.
Gerard Butler’s character, Stoick, is Hiccup’s father in the film, and at first, refuses to understand why his son doesn’t want to abide by his people’s way of life. In addition to Butler, thecast of the live-actionHow to Train Your Dragonincludes Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, and Julian Dennison. The originalanimatedHow to Train Your Dragonmoviesare beloved by fans, sopeople are eager to see how the live-action cast will portray the characters. However, as far as Butler is concerned, his return to the franchise looks set to match audience expectations.

Gerard Butler’s Live-Action Stoick Looks Perfect In How To Train Your Dragon
Gerard Butler Plays Viking Leader Stoick In How To Train Your Dragon
Other than Hiccup and Toothless,Stoick the Vast is the most prominent character in the first trailer for the live-actionHow to Train Your Dragonmovie. This makes sense, since Gerard Butler is the most recognizable member of the cast. Butler’s deep, powerful voice always suited the character of Stoick perfectly in theHow to Train Your Dragonanimated films, and the first trailer proves that his physical presence is a perfect match for the character as well.
In the trailer, Butler’s Stoick can be seen standing at the front of a Viking ship, raising his axe in the air as battle looms, and walking in front of an army of warriors. Even though the trailer only features brief shots of Stoick,Butler clearly commands every scene that the character is in. The trailer also features Stoick telling his son that he will kill dragons, which teases one of the main conflicts inHow to Train Your Dragon.

How To Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Movie Can Show How Irreplaceable Gerard Butler Is As Chief Stoick
Gerard Butler’s Stoick Is A Highlight Of The New How To Train Your Dragon Trailer
When it was announced that a live-action adaptation of the animatedHow to Train Your Dragonwas being made, many fans made suggestions about who should play characters like Hiccup, Astrid, and Gobber. However,it would have been hard to find a worthy replacement for Chief Stoick. Since Gerard Butler’s age aligns with hisHow to Train Your Dragoncharacter quite well, it would have been a missed opportunity to not include him in the live-action adaptation.
3 How To Train Your Dragon Actors Who Can Reprise Their Roles In Live-Action After Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler will reprise his role of Stoic in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie, but which other voice actors could follow him?
The upcomingHow to Train Your Dragonlive-action movie can show that, without a doubt,Gerard Butler is the perfect actor to play Stoick. Stoick is the leader of the island of Berk, so it is essential for him to have a commanding presence. Throughout his career, Butler has proven himself adept at portraying natural leaders – whether it’s King Leonidas in300, or Mike Banning in theHas Fallenfranchise. This inherent authority makes him perfectly suited to a character as domineering as Stoick inHow to Train Your Dragon.
How to Train Your Dragon
Cast
How to Train Your Dragon, released in 2025, depicts the story of Hiccup, a young Viking who defies tradition on the isle of Berk by befriending Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their friendship uncovers the true nature of dragons, challenging entrenched Viking perceptions and societal norms.