Gerard Butler’s Unlikely Return: A Dragon’s Destiny or a Waste?

Back in 2011, DreamWorks Animation unleashed How to Train Your Dragon, adapted from Cressida Cowell’s beloved books. The film soared, spawning sequels, spin-off series, games, and even a globe-trotting arena spectacle. Fourteen years later, the franchise found itself in the spotlight once more, this time with a live-action reimagining of the original tale. As is often the case with such revivals, the familiar voices were nowhere to be heard—save for one exception. Gerard Butler, the formidable Scot, returned to embody Stoick the Vast, the gruff Viking chieftain, while the role of his son, Hiccup, passed to Mason Thames. Jay Baruchel, the original Hiccup, had aged out of the part, making way for a new generation.

Butler’s return was far from guaranteed. He revealed in an interview that he was initially tied up with another project when director Dean DeBlois reached out. The first call went unanswered, but a follow-up message from DeBlois made the stakes clear.

“I got a text from Dean two hours later saying, ‘We tried you again. You’re not available. I just want you to know I wanted you to do this so much, and I’m heartbroken’,”

Butler recalled. Sensing an opportunity, he quickly checked his schedule. As luck would have it, the other film was delayed, opening a window for him to step back into Stoick’s boots.

“It was destiny that the timing worked out, and everything unfolded as it did.”

Behind the Scenes: A Close Call

Butler didn’t specify which project was postponed, but a glance at his recent work offers a few clues. The next film on his slate was In the Hand of Dante, though his role there wasn’t central enough to warrant a major production shuffle. More likely, the delay involved Greenland 2: Migration, a follow-up to his 2020 disaster flick, where his involvement was far more significant. Either way, the stars aligned, and Butler found himself back among dragons and Vikings, much to the delight of the production team.

Yet, the excitement didn’t quite translate to audiences. The live-action reboot, despite its high-profile casting and nostalgic appeal, failed to capture the magic of its animated predecessor. Critics and long-time fans alike were left unimpressed, with many dismissing the film as a hollow cash-in lacking the warmth and spirit of the original. The numbers at the box office and the reviews painted a picture of a project that, for all its ambition, missed the mark.

Mixed Reactions and a Sequel in the Works

For those who grew up with the original trilogy, the remake felt unnecessary—perhaps even a bit cynical. The sense of adventure and heart that defined the first film seemed to have been lost in translation. Still, Butler appeared to relish the chance to revisit Stoick, and the studio, undeterred by the lukewarm reception, has already set plans in motion for a second live-action instalment. It seems the saga of Vikings and dragons is far from over, whether audiences are clamouring for more or not.

So, while the latest chapter in this fantasy epic may not have set the world alight, it’s clear that, for Butler at least, the opportunity to return was written in the stars—or perhaps just pencilled into a suddenly free diary slot.