Let’s be real for a second. We all cried when Hiccup and Toothless said their goodbyes in The Hidden World. It felt final. It felt like a period at the end of a very long, very emotional sentence. But Hollywood being Hollywood, the rumors about a How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast just won't stay dead, even if the actual project is a bit of a ghost.
If you’re looking for a list of voice actors for a fourth animated movie, you might be looking for something that doesn't actually exist. At least, not in the way you think. DreamWorks was pretty adamant that the trilogy was a closed loop. However, the franchise is currently undergoing a massive metamorphosis into live-action, which has led to a ton of confusion about who is playing who and whether we’re getting a sequel or a "re-do."
The reality of the How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast
So, here’s the deal. There is no official "Part 4" in the animated timeline currently in production. Instead, the "cast" everyone is buzzing about is actually for the live-action reimagining of the first film, scheduled for a 2025 release. Universal and DreamWorks decided that instead of moving forward, they’d go back to the beginning with real flesh-and-blood actors.
It’s a weird spot to be in as a fan. You want more of the story, but the How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast rumors are mostly just people conflating the live-action news with a potential sequel.
Mason Thames is the new Hiccup. You might know him from The Black Phone. He’s got that lanky, awkward energy that Jay Baruchel pioneered in the original 2010 film. Alongside him, Nico Parker is taking over as Astrid. She was incredible in The Last of Us, and she brings a certain groundedness that Astrid definitely needs.
Why we keep searching for a fourth movie
Honestly? It's the "Nine Realms" fault. That spin-off show set in modern times tried to bridge the gap, but for many purists, it didn't scratch the itch. We want the Vikings. We want the Berk we remember.
When people search for the How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast, they are usually hoping to see names like Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Craig Ferguson pop up again. While those actors have expressed deep love for the franchise, the shift to live-action has effectively sidelined a direct animated sequel for now.
But there is one massive bridge between the old and the new.
Gerard Butler is returning.
💡 You might also like: Cliff Richard and The Young Ones: The Weirdest Bromance in TV History Explained
This is almost unheard of in reboots. Usually, they swap out the entire roster to "refresh" the brand. But Butler is Stoick the Vast. His voice is so synonymous with the character that Dean DeBlois—who is directing the live-action version—clearly felt you couldn't have one without the other. It’s a bit of a meta-casting move that gives the new project some much-needed "legacy" street cred.
The confusion between sequels and reboots
It happens all the time. A studio announces a new project, and the internet immediately labels it as "the next one."
The How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast isn't a group of people recording lines in a sound booth in Burbank. They are actors on a physical set in Northern Ireland, dealing with wind, rain, and giant mechanical dragon rigs.
- Hiccup: Mason Thames (replaces Jay Baruchel’s voice)
- Astrid: Nico Parker (replaces America Ferrera’s voice)
- Stoick: Gerard Butler (reprise)
- Gobber: Nick Frost (replaces Craig Ferguson)
Nick Frost as Gobber is inspired casting. If you’ve seen Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz, you know he can do the "gruff but lovable mentor" thing in his sleep. He’s taking over for Craig Ferguson, which are big shoes—or rather, one big prosthetic limb—to fill.
Is an animated sequel actually possible?
Never say never. Look at Kung Fu Panda 4 or Toy Story 5. Animation houses love a reliable IP. But the hurdle for a How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast to reunite is the ending of the third movie. The dragons are gone. They are literally in a hidden underworld to keep them safe from human greed.
To bring them back, you’d have to undo the emotional weight of that sacrifice. That’s a risky move. Most fans would rather have a high-quality live-action version than a cheapened sequel that ruins the original ending.
Dean DeBlois, the mastermind behind the trilogy, is steering the live-action ship. That’s the only reason many fans haven't completely revolted. Having the original creator involved means the "vibe" should remain intact, even if the medium has changed.
What this means for the future of Berk
If the live-action movie explodes at the box office, you can bet your last sheep that we’ll see live-action versions of How to Train Your Dragon 2 and 3. In that scenario, the How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast might eventually be these same young actors grown up.
📖 Related: Christopher McDonald in Lemonade Mouth: Why This Villain Still Works
It’s a long game.
The industry is leaning heavily into nostalgia. But there's a nuance here. Unlike Disney’s approach to live-action, which often feels like a shot-for-shot remake, the buzz around the Dragon reboot suggests a slightly more rugged, "Viking-fantasy" tone.
Breaking down the new faces
Mason Thames has a lot of pressure on him. Hiccup isn't just a protagonist; he's an icon for every kid who felt like they didn't fit the "warrior" mold. Thames has that specific kind of charisma where he looks like he's constantly thinking three steps ahead of everyone else.
Nico Parker’s casting as Astrid did cause some predictable "internet discourse," but anyone who saw her performance in Dumbo or The Last of Us knows she has the range. Astrid is a warrior. She’s disciplined. Parker has that intensity.
Then there's Julian Dennison. You remember him as the kid from Deadpool 2 and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. He’s joined the cast as Fishlegs. That is arguably the most spot-on casting in the entire production. He has the comedic timing to make Fishlegs more than just a walking encyclopedia of dragon stats.
The technical side of the "New" Dragon 4
When we talk about the How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast, we also have to talk about the dragons. They are "characters" too. In the live-action version, they aren't just CGI overlays; the production used massive practical animatronics to give the actors something to interact with.
This matters because it changes how the actors perform. In the animated trilogy, the cast never had to look a dragon in the eye. Now, Mason Thames has to build a physical rapport with a giant, mechanical Toothless head.
- Filming Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Director: Dean DeBlois (the original architect).
- Cinematographer: Bill Pope (The Matrix, Spider-Man 2).
- Release Date: June 13, 2025 (subject to the usual Hollywood shifts).
The choice of Bill Pope as cinematographer tells you everything you need to know. This isn't going to be a bright, bubbly cartoon. It's going to have grit. It’s going to look like a Viking epic.
👉 See also: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne: Why His Performance Still Holds Up in 2026
Addressing the "Hidden World" Epilogue
Some people argue that the short film How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming was essentially the "fourth" installment. It featured the original How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast (the voice actors) and showed Hiccup’s children meeting Toothless’s "Night Lights."
If that’s what you were looking for, that’s as close as we’re getting to a direct sequel for a while. It was a 22-minute holiday special, but it carried the canon forward. It showed that even though dragons and humans live apart, the bond is generational.
But a full-length feature? That’s just not on the cards right now. The studio is betting the entire farm on this live-action transition.
Why the "Part 4" rumors won't stop
- Clickbait: Many YouTube channels create fake trailers with "HTTYD 4" in the title to farm views.
- The Nine Realms: People see a new dragon show on Hulu or Peacock and assume a movie is coming.
- Live-Action Confusion: "New Dragon Movie" headlines often get misinterpreted as a sequel rather than a reboot.
- Fan Hope: We simply don't want to say goodbye to Toothless.
Practical steps for fans of the franchise
If you are trying to keep up with the real news and avoid the fluff, here is how you should navigate the upcoming year of Dragon content.
First, stop looking for "How to Train Your Dragon 4" and start searching for "Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon updates." That is where the actual production news is living.
Second, follow Dean DeBlois on social media. He’s been relatively transparent about the filming process in Ireland. He often shares bits of information that aren't in the official press releases, like the challenges of filming in the North Sea or the chemistry between the new leads.
Third, temper your expectations regarding the original voice cast. While it's great that Gerard Butler is back, Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera have essentially passed the torch. They’ve spoken in interviews about how much they cherish the characters, but they also seem to respect the "ending" they achieved in 2019.
Finally, keep an eye on the "Night Lights" merchandise. If DreamWorks does decide to go back to animation for a fourth film, it will likely center on the offspring of Toothless and the Light Fury. That’s the most logical narrative path. But for now, the How to Train Your Dragon 4 cast is a mix of fresh faces and one legendary Scottish king, all working to bring the world of Berk into our reality.
The story of Hiccup and Toothless isn't over; it’s just being told in a different language now. Instead of pixels, we’re getting salt spray and real leather. Whether it can capture the magic of the original remains to be seen, but the talent involved suggests they aren't taking the task lightly. The focus is squarely on June 2025. That’s the real "Part 4" for this franchise, even if it’s technically starting from page one.