It’s actually kinda wild when you think about it. For over a decade, the voice of a skinny, sarcastic Viking became the emotional heartbeat of DreamWorks Animation. If you’re wondering who plays Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon, the answer isn't just one person anymore.
Jay Baruchel is the name most people know. He’s the guy who gave Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III that specific, nasal, slightly anxious energy that made the character feel so real. But things are changing. With a live-action remake on the horizon for 2025, a new face is stepping into those fur boots.
The Voice That Started It All: Jay Baruchel
Jay Baruchel didn't just read lines. He basically lived as Hiccup from 2010 all the way through 2019. It’s rare to see an actor stick with a voice role for three feature films, several short films, and a long-running television series like DreamWorks Dragons. Usually, studios swap out big-name actors for cheaper voice talent when they move to TV. Not here. Baruchel stayed.
His voice is distinct. You know it when you hear it. It has this frantic, self-deprecating quality that perfectly captured a kid who felt like an outsider in a village of warriors. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine the "This is Berk" monologue delivered by anyone else. He brought a level of sincerity to the bond with Toothless that helped the franchise gross over $1.6 billion globally.
Before he was a dragon rider, Baruchel was known for R-rated comedies like Knocked Up and This Is the End. It was a bit of a gamble to cast him as the lead in a massive family tentpole, but it paid off. He managed to age the character up naturally. In the first film, he sounds like a cracking-voiced teen. By The Hidden World, he sounds like a tired, seasoned leader who has seen too much war.
The New Era: Who Plays Hiccup in Live-Action?
Hollywood loves a remake. In early 2023, Universal and DreamWorks confirmed they were developing a live-action version of the original story. The massive question was: who could actually look like Hiccup without losing the charm Baruchel established?
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The role went to Mason Thames.
If that name sounds familiar, you probably saw him in the horror hit The Black Phone. He’s got that lanky, slightly awkward frame that the character requires. He’s young, which is good because the first movie is very much a coming-of-age story. Casting an older actor would have ruined the "underdog" vibe.
Mason Thames has a tough job. He’s not just competing with a script; he’s competing with a legacy. Fans are protective of Hiccup. When the news broke, social media was a mess of "he looks perfect" and "why are we even doing this?" Dean DeBlois, the original director of the animated trilogy, is returning to direct the live-action version, which gives people hope. It’s not just a cash grab; it’s a re-imagining by the person who built the world in the first place.
Why the Voice Choice Mattered So Much
Animation is weird. If the voice doesn't match the movements, the whole thing falls apart. The animators at DreamWorks actually used Baruchel’s physical quirks—his shrugs, his specific way of squinting—to inform how Hiccup moved on screen.
Think about the "Forbidden Friendship" scene. There’s almost no dialogue. But when Hiccup finally does speak, that breathy, nervous tone tells you everything you need to know about his fear and curiosity. That’s the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of voice acting. You have to believe the person behind the microphone is actually touching a dragon.
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The supporting cast helped too. You had America Ferrera as Astrid and Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast. Butler’s booming Scottish accent provided a perfect foil to Baruchel’s Canadian-inflected, softer tones. It highlighted the gap between the father’s expectations and the son’s reality.
Variations of the Character Across Media
Hiccup has appeared in a lot more than just the movies. If you’ve spent any time on Netflix or Cartoon Network, you know the world expanded significantly.
- The Movies: Jay Baruchel (2010, 2014, 2019).
- The TV Shows (Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk, Race to the Edge): Jay Baruchel.
- Video Games: Usually Baruchel, though sometimes sound-alikes are used for minor tie-in projects or mobile apps where the budget doesn't allow for A-list talent.
- Live-Action (2025): Mason Thames.
Interestingly, in the original book series by Cressida Cowell, Hiccup is quite different. He’s younger, and the dragons are much smaller (they can sit on your shoulder). The movies took a massive departure by making the dragons horse-sized or larger. This change meant Hiccup had to be more of a physical adventurer, which Baruchel captured through grunt work and "action" vocalizations during those high-speed flying sequences.
What to Expect Next
The live-action film is currently the big talking point. Production faced some delays during the 2023 strikes, but it’s back on track. We’ve seen leaked photos of the sets, and they look incredibly faithful to the Isle of Berk we saw in 2010.
Mason Thames is joined by Nico Parker, who will play Astrid. Interestingly, Gerard Butler is actually returning to play Stoick in live-action. It’s a rare move—usually, they recast everyone. Having Butler there will provide a bridge between the two versions of the story, even if Hiccup himself sounds and looks a little different.
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People are worried about the CGI for Toothless. Can a "real" dragon have the same puppy-like expressions that the animated one had? We’ll see. But as far as the human element goes, the choice of Mason Thames suggests they are leaning into the "scrawny kid with a big heart" trope rather than trying to make Hiccup a traditional action hero.
Taking Action: How to Keep Up with the Franchise
If you’re a die-hard fan or just getting into the lore, there are a few things you should do to stay ahead of the curve before the new movie drops.
First, go back and watch How to Train Your Dragon: Race to the Edge. A lot of people skip the TV shows, but that’s where most of the character development happens. It fills the gap between the first and second movies. You see Hiccup grow from a boy into a man, and Baruchel’s performance really shines there because he has more room to breathe.
Second, keep an eye on official production stills for the 2025 movie. Comparing Mason Thames' performance to the animated source material will be the biggest cinema debate of the year.
Finally, check out the original books. They are wildly different—almost a different story entirely—but they give you a deep appreciation for where the "Hiccup" archetype came from. He’s always been about brains over brawn, no matter who is playing him.
Watch the original trilogy again. Pay attention to the subtle vocal shifts in Baruchel’s performance as the character ages. It’s a masterclass in how to grow a character over a decade without losing the core of what made them likable in the first place. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to judge the live-action version fairly.