In a new addition to his impressive roster of cherished characters, Nick Frost will portray Gobber in an upcoming live-action film adaptation of the 2010 animated movie “How to Train Your Dragon” and its source material, Cressida Cowell’s children’s book series. Set for release in 2025, this movie follows a young Viking who forms a bond with a dragon named Toothless, gaining insights into the dragon species. As he learns more about these creatures, he strives to change his village’s misconceptions and attitudes towards dragons.
In a new development, it has been announced that Frost, well recognized for his frequent partnerships with friend Simon Pegg on projects such as the Cornetto trilogy and Spaced, among others, will be stepping into the role previously held by Craig Ferguson in the remake’s cast of How to Train Your Dragon. This character, known as Gobber the Belch, is a vital figure in the village of Berk, serving not only as the blacksmith but also instructing the younger generations on the tribe’s dragon-fighting techniques. Additionally, Gobber shares a close bond with Gerard Butler’s Stoick, the village chief, often offering him emotional support in raising Hiccup, played by Mason Thames.
To celebrate the premiere of the film, ScreenRant conducted an interview with Nick Frost to delve into his role in How to Train Your Dragon. During the conversation, he shared insights about his collaboration with writer/director Dean DeBlois to flesh out Gobber for the big screen compared to his animated version. Moreover, he expressed awe over the film’s hands-on production methods, discussed his eagerness to further develop the character in the upcoming sequel, and hinted at his forthcoming transformation into Hagrid for HBO’s adaptation of Harry Potter.
Frost Sees Gobber As Being More Than Just A Comedic Character
The Largely Practical Set Was Also A Big Tool For Immersing Himself In The World
For the remake of “How to Train Your Dragon,” writer/director Dean DeBlois aimed to delve deeper into the film’s content, focusing on characters who might have felt underdeveloped in the original trilogy. In preparing for his role as Gobber, actor Craig Frost shared a similar objective, understanding that portraying him in live-action would allow for a more humanized version of the character compared to previous films.
Frost made it clear that Gobber isn’t merely angry or fun, but a complex character with a full spectrum of human emotions. He wants viewers to see that Gobber is Mason’s father, a friend to Stoick, yet he can also be angry. To make him relatable, Frost believes it’s important to show all aspects of his humanity – from being funny and charming, to being an idiot at times. Playing such a multi-faceted character, according to Frost, is enjoyable.
One helpful aspect Frost found when adopting Gobber’s mindset was the hands-on production style, as he noted that being on set felt like being in Berk, the training arena, surrounded by hundreds of Vikings. Additionally, he collaborated closely with the costume and hair departments to bring Gobber’s distinctive appearance to life, focusing on details such as his iconic large mustache and the peg leg replacement.
Although he made a humble remark, Frost later added that he was “praising the art department, the costume department, and the wig maker,” all of whom he admired greatly during the movie’s creation. He expressed his appreciation by saying, “It’s wonderful to witness the creative brilliance on set from everyone.” He continued, “It’s not just about the actors in front of the camera or Dean and the writers. It’s like, ‘Wow, that’s a small detail on my costume that no one will ever notice, but someone spent two weeks meticulously attaching leather to it. Wow, that’s incredible.’
Frost Recognizes The Role Of Hagrid Comes With Multiple Jobs For Him
“…That’s The Reason I Wanted To Do It In The First Place.”
Besides “How to Train Your Dragon”, Frost is swiftly moving towards the live-action remake with HBO’s upcoming TV reboot of the “Harry Potter” series, where he will portray another beloved character, Hagrid. Expressing it as “absolutely fantastic“, he’s thrilled about getting to “revisit and play Hagrid“. The star revealed that one of his main focuses while working on the show is “‘to be very careful with the children’“, not just because it’s “a fundamental aspect of [Hagrid’s] bond with those children“, but also because he is a father himself.
Speaking about the upcoming launch of the Harry Potter TV show this summer, Frost mentions that he’s already had a chance to visit the sets. During these visits, he encountered “The Sorting Hat”, some wands, and learned that the team is growing a beard to resemble Hagrid for him. The star also commended showrunner Francesca Gardiner’s scripts and initial discussions with director and executive producer Mark Mylod, stating that they were the primary factors motivating him to join the project.
Stay tuned for and check out our other How to Train Your Dragon interviews with:
- Dean DeBlois (Pre-Release)
- Mason Thames & Nico Parker
- Gerard Butler
- Dean DeBlois (Opening Release)
- Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James & Harry Trevaldwyn
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2025-06-11 01:07