A Decade Later, How to Train Your Dragon 2 Live-Action Casting Change Sparks Nostalgia: Original Voice Actor Eager to Return

— Djimon Hounsou says, “For the sake of my kids, that would be fun,” even after his role was recast, still hoping to rejoin the beloved franchise in any capacity

As DreamWorks Animation’s liveaction wave continues, the liveaction adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon 2 has been officially scheduled for June 11, 2027. However, recent casting news has left many fans with mixed emotions: Djimon Hounsou, who voiced the villain Drago Bludvist in the original animated film, will not be returning in the same role due to a recasting. Yet in a recent interview, Hounsou openly confessed: “I’m still waiting for that phone call” — a sentiment that strikes right at the heart of every fan who grew up with this classic franchise.

A Look Back: A Golden GlobeWinning Animated Masterpiece

Released in 2014, How to Train Your Dragon 2 is not only a peak achievement for DreamWorks but also an enduring milestone in global animation history. The film grossed over $622 million worldwide, won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature. It still holds a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with equally high audience scores.

Its voice cast was nothing short of stellar: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington, Jonah Hill, America Ferrera, Kristen Wiig, and Djimon Hounsou. Hounsou’s portrayal of Drago — a ruthless, vindictive, powerhungry tyrant bent on enslaving dragons to dominate mankind — became one of the most “chillingly memorable” villains in the minds of countless fans.

Casting Change: A Familiar Face Steps Aside, A New Actor Takes Over

The upcoming liveaction How to Train Your Dragon 2 will again be directed by Dean DeBlois (who also helmed the original animated sequel). On a positive note, several original cast members have confirmed their return: Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick, and Cate Blanchett returns as Valka.

However, the key antagonist role of Drago Bludvist has been recast — Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, known for his work in Trapped, Severance, and The Deep, will take on the character. The announcement has sparked both anticipation for the new interpretation and disappointment over Hounsou’s absence.

Hounsou’s Response: “For the sake of my kids, that will be fun”

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, Djimon Hounsou addressed the casting change and whether he might still appear in the franchise in any capacity. He spoke honestly and warmly:

“Yes. That was fun, and that was my first animation, right? I did not know that you had to be so bigger than life. No, patiently or impatiently looking for the phone call, but we’ll see.”

When cointerviewer Whitney Peak jokingly added, “He’s waiting,” Hounsou continued:

“It would be lovely to be part of that show again. And yeah, for the sake of my kids, at least that will be fun.”

This brief, heartfelt response quickly resonated with fans across social media. Many noted that Hounsou’s emotional attachment to the character Drago, along with his simple wish “to have my kids see me in it,” captures exactly the soft spot that every How to Train Your Dragon fan holds in their heart.

What Fan Expectations Mean: More Than Just a Recast, a Continuation of Emotion

For loyal How to Train Your Dragon fans, the first liveaction How to Train Your Dragon (released in 2025) was a major box office success, grossing over $636 million worldwide. Its Rotten Tomatoes score of 77% — while far from the original animated film’s nearperfect 99% — proved that the IP still holds strong appeal in the liveaction era.

With the second liveaction adaptation on the horizon, fans are hoping for more than just “faithful adaptation” or “upgraded special effects.” They long for a sense of emotional continuity — a chance for the actors who once gave soul to these characters through their voices to return, even in cameo roles, to make this decadelong dream feel whole.

Hounsou’s words struck a chord precisely because he voiced what countless fans feel: What we miss is not just the villain Drago, but the voice that made us hold our breath in the theater, and the story that is forever tied to our childhood.

Even though the role has been recast, fans have started a gentle call on social media: “Give Hounsou a cameo,” “Even just a dragon roar in the background would be enough.” This almost stubborn hope shows just how much the How to Train Your Dragon series means to its audience — it has long ceased to be merely an animated film, becoming instead a faithful companion to an entire generation’s comingof-age journey.

Looking Ahead to 2027: Can the Classic Soar Again?

As of now, DreamWorks and Universal have not responded to whether Hounsou might appear in any other capacity. But Hounsou’s line from the interview — “patiently or impatiently looking for the phone call” — leaves a warm glimmer of possibility for all fans.

Whatever the final outcome, one thing is certain: when the liveaction How to Train Your Dragon 2 lands on the big screen on June 11, 2027, the theaters will be filled with audiences who laughed and cried with Hiccup and Toothless. They will come with respect for the original animation, and with fond memories of voice actors like Djimon Hounsou, ready to embrace a story that feels both familiar and brandnew.

Perhaps, as Hounsou said — “that will be fun.” And that “fun” is exactly why fans are willing to wait two years, or even ten.

*About the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2:*
Directed by Dean DeBlois, scheduled for release in North America on June 11, 2027. Gerard Butler and Cate Blanchett return to their roles. Ólafur Darri Ólafsson takes over the villain role of Drago Bludvist. Original voice actor Djimon Hounsou has expressed interest in returning to the franchise in any capacity.