Why How to Train Your Dragon’s David Tennant Didn’t Return in Remake

Dean DeBlois recently explained why David Tennant isn’t part of the How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake. Tennant voiced a key character in the animated films. In a new interview, DeBlois discussed casting choices, physical match concerns, and the chance of working with Tennant in the future.

Dean DeBlois on why David Tennant’s role was recast in How to Train Your Dragon

David Tennant did not return for the 2025 live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon due to physical casting considerations. In the original animated films, Tennant voiced Spitelout, the father of Snotlout and a large, brawny Viking warrior. However, writer-director Dean DeBlois explained that Tennant’s physical appearance did not align with the live-action portrayal of the character.

“David Tennant is such a talented actor, and I felt embarrassed that we didn’t have a big enough role for him in the animated films,” DeBlois told The Hollywood Reporter. “But the character that he played, Spitelout, who is Snotlout’s father, is just such a big, brawny, large person that I didn’t think David would physically be the right match for him.”

Peter Serafinowicz plays Spitelout in the live-action version. Gerard Butler, who originally voiced Stoick the Vast, returns in the remake after a scheduling change created an unexpected opportunity.

“He wasn’t even available when we started casting the film,” DeBlois explained. “He had back-to-back projects that would’ve made him inaccessible during our shooting schedule. So it was actually the actors’ strike of 2023 that jostled some of those projects around, and suddenly, there was an open window where we could grab him.”

DeBlois expressed hope that Tennant might appear in a future installment. “Maybe in the future we’ll find the perfect role for him, but he’s such an ingenious actor,” the filmmaker said.

John Powell also returned to compose the score. According to DeBlois, Powell was “the first one” he called and agreed to join after seeing the project’s nostalgic and creative potential.

Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net