What’s On in conversation with: Gerard Butler on How to Train Your Dragon
We chat to the Scottish actor, who reprises his role as Stoick the Vast…
How to Train Your Dragon, a breathtaking live-action reimagining of the beloved 2010 animated film, is out in cinemas across Saudi Arabia now (book here).
It’s a great film – the visuals are stunning, the action sequences are intense, and it certainly captures all the right emotional beats.
In the Dean DeBlois-directed remake, we return to the rugged isle of Berk to reunite with young Hiccup (played by The Black Phone’s Mason Thames), an awkward teen viking who forms an unexpected friendship with a supposedly deadly dragon he names Toothless, a creature that is part salamander and part black cat.
Meanwhile, Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick the Vast, the formidable leader of the Vikings and father of Hiccup, after voicing the character in the beloved animated movie.
All that’s really changed is that the animated characters literally came to life in this nearly two-hour-long film.
We sat with Butler, who was in Riyadh last month, ahead of the movie’s release, to kick off the global tour for the How to Train Your Dragon red-carpet premiere.
These are just a few of the most tantalising insights he shared about his latest role, including how the film delves deeper into its characters and explores who Stoick is this time around.
What’s On: When you first saw Stoick’s design, beard and all, what was your honest reaction? Did you think, “Yeah, that’s me”?
Gerard Butler: Partly, and the other part of me was like, “Oh, I never thought about this when I took the role, that I’ve got to be that size.” I had thought about it when I made the animated movies, because I would go, “God, what must it be like to really have to be that size and be in that world?” But when I took the role, I didn’t think about that, and then when I saw the design, I thought, “Oh, God, I’m going to wear that for eight weeks.” That’s going to be tough, but exciting as well.
How did it feel to physically embody a character you once only voiced? Did you discover aspects of Stoick that animation never allowed you to explore?
Gerard Butler: Yeah, definitely. When you’re doing a voice in animation, it’s fun, and you can get a lot out of it. But the second you actually become that character and you’re properly living in that world, and you’re there, because in animation, we’re not with the other actors. I’m now performing with my son, who’s a little Viking in front of me. We’re in the blacksmith, or I’m making a speech, and I found so much more colour. I felt like the sandbox that I could play in was much broader. I think, more than anything, was that you could have a lot of fun with his bigness, but it was the quieter, more human parts. That size, when you’re that size, are so much more profound and touching.
You’ve played warriors across time – from ancient Sparta to post-apocalyptic landscapes. How did Stoick challenge your idea of masculinity or leadership in a way those roles didn’t?
Gerard Butler: Everything about him embodies both the strengths and flaws of masculinity. We are often raised to stand tall and strong, and that’s what he strives to do. That’s also a message that he’s trying to take down through the period and protect that. However, that isn’t truly who he is, and I believe that’s what’s lovely about this film – what lies beneath and the ability to reveal that. I think the audience truly connects with Stoick when they witness him becoming more in touch with his sensitive side. In comparison to some other characters, I’m not sure how much of a sensitive side King Leonidas in 300 ever possessed. He’s just pure.
If you had your own dragon, what kind would it be?
Gerard Butler: Look, I love all those dragons. I think Gronckle is adorable, that little dragon with a hippo-like appearance. However, I believe I love Hiccup so much that it’s got to be the Night Fury for me. What I also love is that he’s lethal and so dangerous, yet possesses such a beautiful heart and sensitivity. That’s my favourite kind of person. That’s who I aspire to be. He’s like, “Don’t mess with me, but if you’re good, you get it.”
How to Train Your Dragon is out in cinemas across Saudi Arabia now. Book here.
Images: Supplied