There’s a really good reason why the How To Train Your Dragon live-action remake doesn’t feature David Tennant.
Tennant previously voiced Snotlout’s father, Spitelout Jorgenson, in the animated movie but was replaced by Peter Serafinowicz — aka the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I — for the live-action.
Explaining the decision, the new movie’s writer-director Dean DeBlois said that Tennant’s physicality didn’t match that of Spitelout, who he described as “big” and “brawny”.
“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.”
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With a live-action sequel of the dragon saga on the way, DeBlois didn’t close the door on finding a role that would be “perfect” for Tennant.
“Maybe in the future we’ll find the perfect role for him, but he’s such an ingenious actor,” he said.
A remake of the 2010 animated film of the same name (which, in turn, adapted Cressida Cowell’s 2003 book), the new How To Train Your Dragon stars Mason Thames as Hiccup and Nico Parker as Astrid.
Related: Does How to Train Your Dragon have a post-credit scene? Here’s what you need to know
Gerard Butler returned after voicing Hiccup’s father, Stoik the Vast, in the animated trilogy to play the character in the live-action version.
The cast for the new movie also includes Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn.
How To Train Your Dragon is in cinemas now.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
