Behind the Costume: Gerard Butler's Transformation into Stoick the Vast in How to Train Your Dragon Live-Action Adaptation

The transformation of actors into their characters can be a fascinating process, especially when it involves elaborate costumes. The upcoming live-action adaptation is no exception, as audiences eagerly anticipate how beloved characters will be portrayed.

In the recent reveal of the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, we got our first glimpse of Hiccup. While the actor embodies the character from DreamWorks' animated film quite well, there are lingering doubts about the alignment of other characters with their animated versions.

Gerard Butler, however, aims to alleviate those concerns. He returns to portray Stoick the Vast once again in this new cinematic interpretation, just as he did in the animated trilogy. To truly channel the animated essence of his character, he dons an impressive costume.

The actor described his outfit: "I had seven strata, dense strata, and a bushy beard, followed by a sort of bear pelt or wolfskin over it. It was heavy as can be. With my sword, shield, and an equally heavy helmet, plus all those layers secured with clasps, my costume weighed in at an astounding 90 pounds. On one of the coldest days, I found myself drenched in sweat because it felt like a furnace in there."

While we have yet to see how Stoick will ultimately appear on the big screen, it's clear that, with such a substantial costume, he is sure to be portrayed as a genuinely imposing figure.