Gerard Butler almost didn't return for live-action How to Train Your Dragon- Here's what made the actor change his mind

Actor Gerard Butler initially did not buy the idea of the live-action of How to Train Your Dragon, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

While speaking to the outlet, the actor revealed that his initial reaction upon hearing about the live-action went like the way Butler narrated:

“I was like, ‘Are you guys crazy? That’s going to be terrible.'"

Gerard Butler, who has had a long association with the animated franchise, has lent his voice for the role of Stoick the Vast. In this live-action, we will witness the actor embody the role in flesh and blood. This film is helmed by Dean DeBlois, who also directed the animated franchise.

Let us find out what changed in the mind of Gerard Butler to finally become a part of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon.

"Just wanted to play a bit hard to get", said Gerard Butler about his reaction to the live-action How to Train Your Dragon

Gerard Butler, while speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, reveals that he almost did not return to How to Train Your Dragon. But then, something changed, and as we know, he is essaying the role of Stoick the Vast in the film.

It was when the helmer Dean DeBlois suggested something to Butler, while the actor was still questioning. He mentions that the director suggested him by saying:

“Spend a day in Belfast and see what we’re building, what we’re preparing, how the dragons are going to look, how the world is going to look, and when I saw that I was like ‘OK, I get it all.’ I mean I kind of got it anyway, just wanted to play a bit hard to get,”

Butler was then asked how the process was for Gerard Butler to revisit and essay a role that he has been playing for years. The actor talked about the experience of transitioning from voicing the character to physically playing the role, saying:

“When I watch myself, there are moments where I go, ‘That’s very like how I did it before,’ then there’s moments where you just go completely different. What I did want to do was be fresh, coming in there and starting as a new story and suddenly I’m embodying that all day long — I didn’t get to do that when I was just doing the voice. I wore my pajamas every day.”

Helmer Dean DeBlois shed light on the initial challenges of bringing Gerard Butler on board in this project. The challenges were largely in relation to scheduling issues, as he was involved in other projects. The director was apprehensive about casting somebody else in place of Butler for the role, as he revealed it would be “kind of distressing” for the helmer.

However, due to the actors' strike, changes happened to Butler's schedule regarding other projects. Gerard Butler then soon starred in the film How to Train Your Dragon.

As soon as Gerard Butler gave a green signal about his involvement in the live-action project, DeBlois talked about his feelings by mentioning:

“When Gerry came in I felt a great sense of confidence and comfort like, ‘Oh, this going to work now,'”

Apart from Butler, How to Train Your Dragon also stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Nick Frost, and Gabriel Howell, among many others. The film releases this month, on June 13, 2025.