Summary

Mason Thames and Nico Parker chat with Steve Weintraub about the upcoming How to Train Your Dragon movie.

Working on such an ambitious project was both difficult and rewarding for the pair.

Thames and Parker hint at exciting new ideas and concepts for the franchise’s future.

After starring alongside Ethan Hawke in Scott Derrickson’s horror film The Black Phone — with the sequel, Black Phone 2, on the horizon — Mason Thames has already proven himself to be one to watch in Hollywood. At remarkably just 17 years old, Thames is already catching the attention of global audiences, with his upcoming role as Hiccup in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon set to cement his name as a movie mainstay. Directed by Dean DeBlois, the live-action adaptation will see Thames join another exciting rising star in Hollywood, The Last of Us’ Nico Parker, alongside Hollywood veteran Gerard Butler, who reprises his role as Stoick the Vast from the original animated tale. In the movie, Hiccup doesn’t fit in with his fellow Vikings; he’s smaller, physically weaker, and his mind is full of ideas. To make matters worse, while his community is at war with dragons, Hiccup befriends the feared Night Fury he calls Toothless, sparking a turning point for man and dragon alike. In anticipation of its release, Collider’s Steve Weintraub sat with Thames and Parker to discuss all things How to Train Your Dragon, including their experience making the movie and hopes for the future, as well as finding out their favorite movies.
Mason Thames and Nico Parker Break Down the Magic Behind Dragon Riding

“We just wanted the CGI to look as amazing as possible.”

COLLIDER: So let me start by saying congratulations. I’m sure you’re hearing that from everyone, but you guys did a fantastic job. One of the things I think is just so well done is the way the flying scenes were shot. Can you tell people more about how it was done? MASON THAMES: Of course. We just wanted the CGI to look as amazing as possible. You watch a movie, and the CGI could be incredible, but one shot that’s iffy, it kind of takes you out of it. So our mission was to keep you in it the entire time. What we did is, for all of the scenes of Hiccup on Toothless, they created this giant gimbal thing, which is like a mechanical bull. Basically, whatever they programmed the CGI dragon to do, the gimbal would do the exact same thing with me on top of it. So it was very fluid and smooth. They made that transition really cool. But, yeah, all those flying scenes were a lot of fun, and I’m glad they turned out very well. NICO PARKER: It was interesting because, for us, despite the fact that we’re in it, you kind of have no idea how the final product is going to look. You had to put a lot of trust into Bill [Pope] and frameworks and Dean [DeBlois] and everyone, because if you watch the scenes with no CGI or anything, we look really silly because it’s fake wind, and we’re yelling for our lives. THAMES: It’s very silly. The scene where she’s reaching up at the clouds. PARKER: I’ve never been made fun of more in my life than when I did that. THAMES: I’m sorry. [Laughs] PARKER: It can look a bit silly, and so I think you really do need to have trust and faith in the people you’re working with. But thankfully, I think it turned out pretty nice.

Image via Universal Pictures

What is it like seeing the finished version of this? The sets are practical. So much was practical. I love the way it was shot on location. It just adds that believability. You really don’t know what the F it’s going to be until you’re in that theater. THAMES: I just had so much trust in the whole team and everybody behind it, and seeing it done after months of not knowing, I’m so proud. They did such an incredible job, and seeing it in the theater, it’s incredible. PARKER: It was surreal to see it. I know everyone says this when they have a movie coming out, but I really do think that it needs to be seen on the biggest screen you can find because it’s just so immersive. You really do feel like you’re flying. When you don’t know what it’s going to look like, seeing it for the first time… I’m the worst at watching myself, ever. I can’t do it at all. And even I was, at times… THAMES: Mid-movie, “Mason, talk to me. I can’t.” PARKER: I was like, “I can’t do this. This is just… No!” [Laughs] But even despite that, I was able to be fully into it because by the third act, you’re just right there with all of them. It was very cool. Dean also told me that over an hour is in full-screen IMAX. But you’re not alone because I’ve spoken to so many actors who go to the premiere, they’re on stage, they wave, and then they just walk right out.
Mason Thames and Nico Parker Reveal Their Favorite Movies Ever

“Paddington 2 is the best film I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Image via Universal Pictures

So I’m switching gears completely. I’m obsessed with getting more people into movie theaters, as that’s where movies should be watched. For both of you, do you have a favorite movie theater? THAMES: It really just depends. For me, there is always this broken-down theater next to my house. It was super crappy. The seats were always breaking down, but I remember my dad worked a lot, and he would get off work on Fridays, and I used to be so excited because that’s when he’d pick me up from school, and we’d always go to the movies. We’d see a movie, and we would sit in that crappy movie theater and get that hot dog. Just sitting there with my dad was everything to me. PARKER: I have two, but the Prince Charles Cinema in London is just so gorgeous and so wonderful, and they always show some pretty cool stuff there, so I really, really love that movie theater. And then also very small, but the Lexi Theater in Kensal Rise. THAMES: Oh, Alamo Drafthouse is also really good. I’ve been doing this stuff for a long time, and I’m confident I’ll be interviewing you guys again somewhere down the road. I’m just curious, at this moment in your life, what is your favorite movie? Or top three? THAMES: Spider-Man 2. Bill Pope was actually the cinematographer, and he did this. I drilled him on questions. PARKER: Paper Moon is my favorite movie ever. These were not answers I was expecting, but that’s the greatest thing about movies. THAMES: Of course, I could say artistically made films, which I completely love, but what I love so much about film is they can dress so differently from each other, but you can just watch them and have a great time. Spider-Man 2, I’ve watched that over 50 times. PARKER: Paper Moon is my favorite movie, but Paddington 2 is the best film I’ve ever seen in my life. THAMES: There you go. That’s a good answer.

Image via StudioCanal

For anyone watching that hasn’t seen Paddington or Paddington 2, they are both masterpieces. PARKER: They are ridiculous. We’re on the same wavelength. THAMES: Who’s Paddington’s voice? Ben Whishaw. PARKER: And he was in Black Doves. Did you watch the Keira Knightley show on Netflix? It’s a fun one. They didn’t have scripts done when they were filming. Ben was telling me all about it. PARKER: You’ve met him? If I heard his voice… I can’t even think about it. I actually can’t think about it.
Mason Thames and Nico Parker Have Already Had Discussions About the Franchise’s Future

“Dean has been giving us some fun new ideas.”

So I saw a video of you guys at Epic Universe. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you to roll in, because it must be like rock stars rolling into something. What was it like for the two of you at Epic Universe? What rides did you do? What’s the thing that you want to recommend to people? THAMES: You just got to go to Berk and see it for yourself. I’ve seen videos beforehand, me and Nico were talking about it, and getting there and seeing it in person is insane. PARKER: It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. THAMES: You really feel like you’re in Berk. Every pothole on the ground is themed, like bathroom signs are themed. Every attention to detail is masterful. PARKER: I do have to say, all of the universes that they’ve made in Epic are amazing. But I do think Berk is the best. You might be biased, but you’re probably right.

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This hasn’t come out yet, but I know how awesome it is. It’s going to be a huge hit, and Universal clearly believes in it because they’ve already announced the sequel. What are you guys excited to film from the animated sequel that you’ll hopefully get to do in live action? THAMES: What I’m so excited about is, I can’t say much, but Dean has been giving us some fun new ideas. PARKER: We were at dinner with him the other night and grilling him about what he’s doing with it. THAMES: But he has a lot of new ideas and a lot of cool stuff that I’m excited to see done for the first time. Yeah, that’s all I can say. And I want to wear the suit and have the fire sword. PARKER: I can’t even think about specific moments. I think the fact that we have the chance to do another one is just ridiculous and so exciting. How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters June 13.

How to Train Your Dragon

Release Date

June 13, 2025

Runtime

116 Minutes

Director

Dean DeBlois

Writers

Dean DeBlois

Franchise(s)

How to Train Your Dragon

Mason Thames

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

Nico Parker

Astrid Hofferson

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