Latest news with #MasonThames
South China Morning Post
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet How to Train Your Dragon's Mason Thames: the 17-year-old plays opposite Nico Parker, and came to prominence in The Black Phone starring Ethan Hawke – but which of his co-stars is he dating?
When he was only seven years old, Mason Thames dreamed of one day portraying his hero Hiccup, from the animated series How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD). Now at the age of 17, his dream has come true, with Thames starring as Hiccup in the new, top-grossing live-action film of the same name, and quickly becoming one of Hollywood's most sought-after young actors. 'I never thought that I'd be given the chance to step into his shoes and maybe affect kids the way Hiccup affected me,' said Thames in an interview this month with The Hollywood Reporter. Hiccup, portrayed by Mason Thames, riding Toothless in the new live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. Photo: Universal Pictures/TNS Advertisement HTTYD, which hit theatres in the US on June 13, is a remake of the 2010 animated version, and tells the story of a 15-year-old Viking who goes against his family's centuries-old dragon-hunting tradition and befriends a dragon instead. Thames made his screen debut in the Apple TV+ show For All Mankind when he was 11, and shot to fame in the 2021 supernatural horror film The Black Phone, starring opposite Ethan Hawke . He also had roles in the 2024 films Monster Summer and Incoming. Here's everything to know about Mason Thames. His breakout role: The Black Phone Mason Thames' breakout role was as 13-year-old Finney Blake in The Black Phone, also starring Ethan Hawke. Photo: Universal Pictures Mason Thames made his mark on Hollywood as Finney Blake, a 13-year-old boy held captive in a soundproof basement by a sadistic, masked killer (played by Hawke) in The Black Phone. He will reprise the role in the film's sequel, due to be released in October. Interestingly, it was Thames' performance in The Black Phone that led to him earning the role of Hiccup. HTTYD's director Dean DeBlois watched the supernatural horror on a plane, and was so impressed by the young star that he long listed him for the role of the 15-year-old Viking in his own film, per The Hollywood Reporter. Mason Thames is a trained ballet dancer Mason Thames toured with a professional ballet company in The Nutcracker as a child. Photo: @masonthames/Instagram Thames began training in ballet at the age of five with his sister, Brooke-Madison Thames, who is now a professional ballerina. He toured with a professional ballet company from 2013 to 2016, performing in The Nutcracker.
New York Times
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Watch Hiccup and Toothless Connect in ‘How to Train Your Dragon'
In 'Anatomy of a Scene,' we ask directors to reveal the secrets that go into making key scenes in their movies. See new episodes in the series on Fridays. You can also watch our collection of more than 150 videos on YouTube and subscribe to our YouTube channel. In the live-action version of 'How to Train Your Dragon,' expressions can speak louder than words. That's the case in this early scene from the film, in which Hiccup (Mason Thames) has caught a Night Fury dragon and is conflicted about what to do. He comes from a line of Vikings who kill dragons as part of their warrior tribe, but when Hiccup gets close to the Night Fury, he connects with the dragon (whom he later nicknames Toothless) and can't muster the will to kill the creature. Narrating the scene, the director Dean DeBlois (who also directed the 2010 animated film), said, 'This is one of the scenes that follows quite closely the animated movie. It's a handful of scenes that I wanted to recreate almost shot for shot. But in this case we realized we didn't need a lot of the dialogue that we gave Hiccup in the animated version. So much of it could be played on Mason Thames's face.' DeBlois said he spoke with his actor about the emotional way to play the scene. 'I remember on the day talking to Mason before we started rolling cameras, and I said, 'Don't forget, this is the moment you reference later in the movie when you looked into his eyes and you saw yourself.' It seems like a moment of weakness but this is that strength in disguise that causes Hiccup to be a new thinker that can usher in an era of peace that nobody saw coming.' Read the 'How to Train Your Dragon' review. Sign up for the Movies Update newsletter and get a roundup of reviews, news, Critics' Picks and more.
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
How to make remake movies
IN the ever-growing graveyard of 'live-action remakes nobody asked for,' How to Train Your Dragon has defied the odds by not only surviving but absolutely soaring. Directed by Dean DeBlois, the same creative genius behind the original animated trilogy, this live-action reboot dares to ask the question: What if Hollywood got one right for once? The answer? A resounding yes, complete with fire, friendship and more emotional resonance than anyone probably signed up for. Dragons, drama, dream casting For starters, let us talk casting. Mason Thames brings a charming awkwardness to Hiccup, staying true to the character's scrappy, inventive spirit. Nico Parker's Astrid? Fierce with a capital F, making her scenes pop with strength and subtle wit. And yes, Gerard Butler is back as Stoick, because sometimes the universe does give out small blessings. Supporting characters do not feel like afterthoughts either. Nick Frost as Gobber is a riot and Julian Dennison steals scenes as Fishlegs with his signature blend of lovable chaos. Even Toothless, reimagined through top-tier CGI, feels alive in a way that is surprisingly intimate without veering into uncanny valley. Visually majestic, emotionally grounded Purists, brace for it: there are some minor tweaks. But this is not a desecration of childhoods, it is more like a respectful adaptation that understands its roots. From the tone to the narrative beats, this version remains deeply loyal to what made the original fly in the first place. The coming-of-age themes, emotional stakes and dragon-sized scale of the story are all intact, just told with a different brush. Critics will no doubt emerge from their dragon-proof bunkers to say it is 'unnecessary' or 'lacking the charm of animation.' But no live-action remake was ever going to satisfy everyone. What this one does is respect the original while confidently telling the story in a new format. That alone makes it far superior to most of its genre peers (yes, Lilo & Stitch, this is directed at you). From the wind-whipped cliffs of Berk to the skies lit with fire and wonder, the visuals in How to Train Your Dragon are nothing short of breathtaking. DeBlois has harnessed the power of VFX teams to make flying with dragons feel like an actual experience, not just a green screen fantasy. And yet, for all its visual bravado, the heart of the story never gets lost. The emotional core about unlikely friendship, defying tradition and finding strength in vulnerability lands with as much weight as ever. It is a story with wings and a soul. Reboot that does not feel like a cash grab It is no secret that Hollywood loves a good remake... and an easy profit. But this film does not feel like a studio boardroom churned it out. DeBlois' return as writer-director brings a sense of authorial care rarely seen in reboots. The film breathes sincerity. It wants to honour the world it is rebuilding and that care shows in every frame. Plus, giving credit where it is due: the score by John Powell is a returning hero in its own right. With sweeping strings and triumphant horns, the music is just as magical as fans remember now, with even more sonic depth for live-action scale. Whether it is a long-time fan revisiting Berk or someone walking in fresh, the film works across the board. It is thrilling, funny, heartfelt and surprisingly thoughtful for a movie involving fire-breathing reptiles. Non-fans will find themselves swept up in a story that is easy to follow and hard not to fall in love with. Meanwhile, fans can breathe a sigh of relief, this remake does not spit on the original, it roars in celebration of it. Of course, there will be naysayers. Some will say the animated version 'just had more charm'. Others will nitpick the minor character redesigns or wish that one line had stayed exactly the same. But if a remake tries to please everyone, it ends up pleasing no one. Thankfully, this film stays grounded in what matters and flies above the noise. How to Train Your Dragon is an excellent film in its own right. With top-notch performances, breathtaking visuals and a faithful yet fresh retelling of a beloved story, it sets a new bar for what remakes can be. It entertains, it moves and most importantly, it respects its audience, both old and new. The movie teases an epic adventure where two worlds must unite and take flight.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dakota Johnson's Materialists BOMBS at box office despite starry cast featuring Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans
How To Train Your Dragon breathed some fire into the summer box office soaring easily to the top spot. The first live-action reimagining of the 2010 animated hit starring Mason Thames, Nico Parker and Gerard Butler, met expectations, pulling in nearly $84 million in ticket sales its first weekend in theaters. The film was a global hit as well, pulling in some $114.1 million from 81 markets, according to The Numbers for a global total of $197.8 million. In North America, HTTYD was the eighth-best opening of all time for Father's Day weekend and the fourth-biggest opening of the year to date. Among those attending over the weekend were Thames and Butler, who shared a video on social media celebrating the film. 'It was the first time we saw it in Imax,' Butler said, 'Yeah, it was insane,' Thames agreed. 'And we brought a bunch of friends,' Butler continued, showing a cheering crowd, joking, 'I didn't have to pay them that much money.' Then, pointing to his young co-star who plays Hiccup, the MTV Movie Award winner said, 'and this kid's going to be the biggest star of all, Mason. How good is he?.' Writing next to the post the Scottish actor said, 'Couldn't be more proud to call him my Viking son. As you can see, this sentiment is backed up by all the troops that went into battle with us last night. Go see #HowToTrainYourDragon and watch this kid soar. He's gonna break your heart in the best way.' The film received excellent reviews, including an A from CinemaScore, and a 98-percent rating from the audiences at Rotten Tomatoes. Last week's number one, the live-action Lilo & Stitch, dropped to distant second place after three weeks at the top. The Disney film starring Maia Kealoha, as Lilo along with Courtney B. Vance and Tia Carrere, earned $15 million domestically over the weekend, adding to its worldwide total of $366,371,809. Debuting in third place was the romantic comedy Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson as a matchmaker in the enviable position of having to choose between leading men Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal. The film, written and directed by Celine Song, received a warm 87-percent rating from the critics at Rotten Tomatoes and audiences responded with a heartfelt $12 million at the box office. Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning dropped to fourth place, earning $10.3 million. The action-adventure starring Tom Cruise and his band of wily agents has not fared as well as other films in the popular franchise, but after a disappointing opening weekend in which it was bested by Lilo & Stitch, Final Reckoning has still managed to capture more than $467 million globally. Rounding out the top five was Ana De Armas in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. The thriller focusing on a trained Russian assassin seeking revenge after her father's death, earned $9.4 million over the weekend.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'How to Train Your Dragon' box office collection day 5: The live-action film mints ₹13.28 cr in India
The live-action version of 'How to Train Your Dragon' has had a strong start at the Indian box office, earning around ₹11.73 crore net in its first four days according to the Sacnilk report. Although there was a noticeable drop in collections on Monday, the solid weekend numbers show that audiences are still excited about good family-friendly films. On its fifth day, 'How to Train Your Dragon' continued its steady run at the Indian box office, earning approximately ₹1.23 crore net across all languages. This brings the film's total collection to ₹13.28 crore in just five days. On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, How to Train Your Dragon recorded an overall English occupancy rate of 11.07% in India. This moderate turnout reflects the typical weekday dip in theatre attendance, especially after a strong weekend performance. Despite the decline, the film continues to draw in viewers steadily, particularly families and animation fans, maintaining a decent presence at the box office. The film managed to do well at the box office even though it was competing with other big releases like 'Materialistic', a romantic comedy starring Mason Thames , Nico Parker , Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, and Nick Frost . 'How to Train Your Dragon' is a live-action fantasy adventure about a young Viking named Hiccup who lives on the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. Everything changes when he befriends a dragon named Toothless. As a new threat rises, their bond becomes the key to bringing peace between humans and dragons. The film is a heartfelt tale of friendship, courage, and breaking old traditions. Released on 13 June 2025, and is helmed by Dean DeBlois . Black Phone 2 - Official Trailer
