How to Train Your Dragonbrought Gerard Butler back as Stoick for the live-action remake, and many other original voice actors deserve to return to the franchise.Original voice actors rarely reprise their charactersin live-action remakes. Ittypically doesn’t happen in Disney’s remakes, but that’s primarily because many of the actors have either passed or are too old to play that character.
However,HTTYDis a fairly new franchise, meaning many of those actors are still active and ready to go.The one actor who returned as their live-action counterpart was Butler,who played Stoick, Hiccup’s father and the chief of Berk. After seeing the film,Butler is perfect as Stoick, given that he nearly wasn’t cast in the role.
Butler has a booming, authoritative voice, and hearing Stoick without that classic Scottish accent wouldn’t be the same. For the sequels, other voice actors could return to their respective roles or in other parts, giving them the gravitas they deserve. Here are eightHow to Train Your Dragonactors with hopes of returning in the upcoming films.
8Cate Blanchett As Valka
Hiccup’s Mom Will Return In The Sequel
Cate Blanchett is the most obvious choice forHow To Train Your Dragon 2.The two-time Academy Award winner lent her voice to Valka, Hiccup’s mother, who was presumed to be dead in the first film. She returned in the sequel, revealing that she befriended dragons just like Hiccup and escaped Berk to protect them.
She plays a significant role in the second film and appears in the third film,The Hidden World. She provides another emotional connection for Hiccup, andBlanchett delivers her motherly wisdom with the needed amount of sincerity and heart. She’s a tough and relentless character, and Blanchett knows how to play those kinds of characters.
Out of all the characters on this list, replacing Blanchett with someone else would be a baffling decision. It would be a massive win for DreamWorks to get an actor of this caliber attached to their next film.Director Dean Deblois says the role will always be open for her, so hopefully, she wants to reprise the role.
7David Tennant As Ivar The Witless
Tennant Voiced Multiple HTTYD Characters
Tennant voiced Spitelout, Snotlout’s father, in the firstHow to Train Your Dragon. However,he didn’t return for the live-action remake and was replaced by Peter Serafinowicz. Speaking withThe Hollywood Reporter, director Dean Deblois said he wanted to bring the actor back, but he felt Tennant wouldn’t fit the role “physically.”
“David Tennant is such a talented actor, and I felt embarrassed that we didn’t have a big enough role for him in the animated films. But the character that he played, Spitelout, who is Snotlout ‘s father, is just such a big, brawny, large person that I didn’t think David would physically be the right match for him. Maybe in the future we’ll find the perfect role for him, but he’s such an ingenious actor.”
Fortunately, there’s another way to bring theDoctor Whoactor back to the franchise.Tennant voiced a different character inThe Hidden World, Ivar the Witless.While it’s not a prominent role, it would be a cool cameo to see him return. He is a versatile actor and could bring a lot of personality to a seemingly forgettable role.
6Ólafur Darri Ólafsson As Ragnar the Rock
Ólafsson Fits This Universe Perfectly
Ólafsson is an underappreciated actor who is finally getting more recognition thanks to his role asMr. Drummond inSeveranceseason 2. His other notable roles can be seen in projects likeFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of GrindelwaldandMurder Mystery. InThe Hidden World,he voices Ragnar the Rock, one of the warlords who hired Grimmel the Grisly to kill Toothless.
Ragnar is a large, intimidating figure who demands an actor who carries the same presence. Ólafsson fits the description and would translate the character to live-action perfectly. Additionally,the actor is Icelandic, and could bring some authenticity to the role and this universe. His size and strength made him menacing inSeverance, and they are the exact characteristics needed for a villainous Viking.
5Kristen Wiig As Griselda The Grevious
Wiig Would Add Some Fresh Comedy To The Sequels
Unfortunately, Wiig, 51, is too old to play Ruffnut, one of the eccentric twins who trains with Hiccup, now played by Bronwyn James. Wiig provided her trademark comedic timing and energy to Ruffnut, and she could bring those qualities to a more villainous character in the other films. Griselda is another of the warlords who wants Grimmel to defeat Hiccup and Toothless.
She has a small role, but that could easily be expanded if Wiig portrayed her. Since she’s a villain, the star could have more flexibility playing her, combining just the right amount of humor and menace. There’s also an opportunity for a full-circle moment sinceGriselda suggests feeding Ruffnut to a dragon inThe Hidden World. Watching Wiig mock her own character would make her casting worthwhile.
4Kit Harington As Eret
Harington Can Ride Dragons Once Again
Kit Harington’s Eret is a significant characterfirst introduced inHow to Train Your Dragon 2. Eret is a former dragon trapper who used to sell dragons to Drago before eventually befriending dragons and joining Hiccup. Harington already has many of Eret’s physical attributes, and he knows how to rock a fur suit thanks to his role as Jon Snow inGame of Thrones.
The English actor is an excellent choice to reprise Eret, butit could also be a moment of redemption for the actor.Game of Thronesrevealed that Jon Snow has Targaryen blood, giving him a strong connection to dragons. However, the show didn’t develop this storyline enough, missing opportunities for Jon to connect with his heritage.
HTTYD 2could finally give him the epic dragon-riding moment he deserves.Eret is an expert dragon tracker,but he learns from Hiccup how to ride and treat dragons respectfully. They may be more cartoonish than the dragons fromGame of Thrones, but plenty of viewers would want to see Harington ride dragons either in the next sequel orThe Hidden World.
3America Ferrera As Astrid’s Mom
Astrid’s Background Could Be Further Developed
One of the few changes made in the live-actionHTTYDis Astrid’s backstory.Astrid comes from a different tribe than Hiccup, and doesn’t have the same access to power that he has. Her parents aren’t included in the film, and they are only briefly seen in the animated films during Hiccup and Astrid’s wedding inThe Hidden World.
Ferrera as Astrid’s mother could pass down her wisdom to her daughter, creating a surreal moment that audiences would appreciate.
Sinceher heritage is more diverse in the live-action film, it opens the door for Ferrera to portray her mom. It would be a unique way to bring the actor back to the franchise while also adding more detail to Astrid as a character. Ferrera as Astrid’s mother could pass down her wisdom to her daughter, creating a surreal moment that audiences would appreciate.
2Craig Ferguson As Grimmel The Grisly
The Scottish Comedian Could Play The Hidden World’s Main Villain
Ferguson played Gobber the Belchin all threeHTTYDfilms. Gobber is a loyal and long-time friend to Stoick, a talented blacksmith, and a valuable mentor to Hiccup. He’s also responsible for training the next generation to fight dragons in the first film. While Gobber is in the live-action film, he’s played byHot Fuzz’s Nick Frost, who lends his comedic talents to the role flawlessly.
The Scottish comedian may not have returned as Gobber, but he would be ideal cast asGrimmel the Grisly, the central antagonist inThe Hidden World. Grimmel is a master dragon hunter whose main goal is to wipe out all existing Night Furies. WithToothless as the new alpha, a group of warlords hires Grimmel to kill him and free up their dragon poaching operations.
Grimmel was voiced by F. Murray Abraham, but the 85-year-old actor is likely too old to perform many of the villain’s movements in live-action. Ferguson could fill the role admirably and would give Grimmel the snark and wit he has in the animated film. Still, it would be sad to hear his voice coming from a heartless monster, rather than a sweetheart like Gobber.
1Djimon Hounsou As Drago Bludvist
Hounsou Can Get The Starring Role He Deserves
Drago is one of the most memorable villains in the franchise and will likely be the central antagonist inHTTYD 2. Drago is a vicious warlord whose primary goal is to conquer the world with an army combining humans and dragons. He has control of the alpha, which means he can control all dragons. Drago is an intimidating foe, and his large stature is boosted by Honsou’s voice.
Hounsou is a veteran actorwho has been a part of many prominent franchises, including comic book films likeGuardians of the GalaxyandShazam!. However, these films have either flopped, or his character was killed off too soon.How to Train Your Dragoncould finally give him the starring role he deserves, and I hope he returns to the franchise for the sequel.
