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‘Beyonce’ Fans,’ Uncomfortable Seating And The Real Tea On What It’s Liking Filming Those Flying Scenes In How To Train Your Dragon Live Action

BBG News

While I was catching the movie “How To Train Your Dragon” at the cinema, it was hard to ignore how realistic the scenes featuring actors Mason Thames and Nico Parker on dragons appeared. The way Toothless and Stormfly soared through the air seemed incredibly lifelike, as if the wind blowing through their hair and the fluid movements in the sky were actually part of a live action scene.

During my conversation with the cast before the digital release on July 15th for the 2025 movie, I was curious to learn how they achieved such lifelike scenes. However, it seems that filming alongside the dragons is not as glamorous as one might imagine.

How The How To Train Your Dragon Cast Really ‘Rode’ On Dragonback

A crucial point in the live-action adaptation of “How To Train Your Dragon” occurs when Hiccup equips Toothless with a novel tail, and they soar above the stunning landscape and waters for the first time. Director Dean DeBlois shared that during the initial screening, this flying sequence was the moment they realized the film was successful in live action. However, achieving this scene required considerable effort and practical effects, as Mason Thames revealed.

It’s quite impressive. It’s definitely stylish. However, it’s not as glitzy as it appears in movies because it’s essentially a mechanical bull with wind blowers facing you. Do you remember what you named it before?

Nico Parker playfully referred to the wind machine as “Beyoncé’s fan,” and they shared a delightful conversation about the influence of Beyoncé.

Nico: She’s a big fan of Beyoncé.

Mason: That sounds way more stylish! Perfect. I had a lot of Beyoncé fans, too.

Nico: Mason must be Beyoncé herself.

The creative team provided the actors with stabilizing equipment, often called gimbals, which enabled them to move smoothly, rotate, and glide around in mid-air. As Thames explained to TopMob, these devices functioned similarly to a mechanical bull, offering an equally uncomfortable experience. However, they found the task challenging and exciting, despite requiring significant time to film and bringing them closer together on set.

‘Mason’: People are aware. It was truly amazing, and we were on it for roughly a month. At times, it became quite cramped, especially when Nico joined me on the dragon. That saddle wasn’t designed to accommodate two people.
Nico: Indeed, it wasn’t designed for two. It’s rather tight in there.
Mason: There’s absolutely no space at all.
Nico: Despite the lack of room, I was enjoying myself immensely.

It’s fascinating to note that if you want a peek at Nico and Mason portraying Astrid and Hiccup, the bonus features on the latest home release offer a glimpse into the making-of process, giving fans a look at how those breathtaking flying scenes were captured. Moreover, viewers will gain insights into the techniques used to bring dragons to life in live-action, which ranged from puppets being employed during filming to subtle details that helped actors immerse themselves more deeply in the story’s emotional depth (and likely provided a better reference point for their performances).

As we eagerly await the second installment of the “How to Train Your Dragon” series, I’m curious about how the creative process evolves and remains consistent in the sequel. Fingers crossed, perhaps Nico and Mason might request a bit more space for their ideas!

You have the opportunity to watch not just this entire thing, but also extra scenes from “How To Train Your Dragon” (and a lot more), amounting to about 75 minutes of additional content. The movie is currently available for rental or purchase.

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2025-07-20 21:08

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