With Universal's big summer blockbuster hit, How to Train Your Dragon, many are discovering, or re-discovering, Mason Thames, the actor behind Hiccup himself. The new movie is incredibly faithful to the original animated film and introduces the timeless tale to new audiences.
Hiccup is but a boy in a Viking village whose entire population has been taught to hunt and kill dragons. Once Hiccup meets Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, and cannot end his life, he starts to realize that they have it all wrong regarding the entire town's presumed mortal enemies.
Gerard Butler, who played Stoick, Hiccup's father, in the original, returns as the same character, but this time in live-action. Additional cast members include Nico Parker (Astrid), Julian Dennison (Fishlegs), Gabriel Howell (Snotlout), and more.
Mason Thames' Upcoming & Released Projects
Monster Summer (2024)
Just before How to Train Your Dragon, Mason Thames starred as Noah Reed in Monster Summer, a kid whose summer fun is interrupted by a scary supernatural threat that is taking the souls of kids around the area.
Starring alongside Thames is Mel Gibson as Gene Carruthers, Julian Lerner as Eugene Wexler, Abby James Witherspoon as Sammy Devers, Noah Cottrell as Ben Driskel, Kevin James (who just starred in the action comedy Guns Up) as Edgar Palmer, and more.
The Direct previously spoke with the cast of the film about their fun, family-friendly horror adventure. Monster Summer is available to purchase digitally and on physical media.
Incoming (2024)
While Mason Thames has been in a lot of horror projects, his role in Netflix's Incoming was a massive departure from that. Instead, it goes far into an R-rated, high school, coming-of-age comedy.
The story follows Benj Nielsen (Mason Thames) and his friends, Eddie (Ramon Reed) and Connor (Raphael Alejandro), as they navigate their first high school party. Needless to say, insane shenanigans ensue.
The Direct talked with Incoming star Raphael Alejandro just after the movie was released, during which he discussed filming the movie's insanely gross Tesla scene. Incoming is streaming on Netflix.
The Black Phone (2021)
2021's The Black Phone is the project that put Mason Thames on the map. It follows Thames' Finney, a teenage boy who is abducted by The Grabber (Ethan Hawke)—a serial child killer who has been terrorizing the locals.
However, the terrifying killer is only half the story. In the basement that Finney finds himself locked in, a mysterious black rotary phone lets him inexplicably communicate with the ghosts of The Grabber's previous victims.
The Black Phone is available to purchase digitally and on physical media.
The Black Phone 2 (October 17, 2025)
Given the success of the first The Black Phone, it's no surprise that Universal and Blumhouse wanted to bring the gang back together for another round.
The Black Phone didn't seem to leave much of an opening for Ethan Hawke's Grabber to return. Despite that, this sequel offers a unique yet familiar approach.
Based on the teaser available, The Black Phone 2 is turning The Grabber into the modern-day Freddy Kruger, which is no good for Mason Thames' Finney, who survived his first encounter with the killer.
The Black Phone 2 is set to hit theaters on October 17, 2025.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (June 11, 2027)
Months before How to Train Your Dragon even hit theaters, How to Train Your Dragon 2 was announced at CinemaCon 2025. Universal clearly knew how successful the film would be, with critics, audiences, and the box office—all three of which it won over.
The story details of How to Train Your Dragon 2 remain a mystery, but it would be safe to assume that it could closely follow the original animated sequel. That story takes place five years after the first film and introduces Hiccup's long-lost mother alongside the villainous Drago Bludvist and his dragon army.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 is set to premiere in theaters on June 11, 2027.
