Hiccup actor injured on set during dragon stunt

A dangerous stunt incident in the How to Train Your Dragon remake left actor Mason Thames injured.

Hiccup actor suffers injury during dragon stunt

During the filming of the How to Train Your Dragon remake, Mason Thames, who plays Hiccup, suffered a serious injury when a stunt went awry. The incident occurred while filming a dragon flight scene using a gimbal rig intended to mimic the movements of Toothless. The gimbal malfunctioned, causing Thames to hit his chin on the mechanical head, resulting in a bloody injury that required five stitches. Co-star Nico Parker, who was involved in the scene, reported being horrified to see blood on her hands, thinking her long nails could have caused the injury. Fortunately, the incident was not caused by her and was instead due to the dramatic nature of the stunt setup, highlighting the risks of using practical effects in filmmaking.

This accident reveals both the excitement and danger of filming live-action adaptations that use practical effects. While such methods enhance realism and improve actor performances, they can lead to injuries, as demonstrated by Thames' experience. This trend in fantasy filmmaking towards more tangible effects is commendable but serves as a reminder of inherent risks. The camaraderie displayed by Thames and Parker in their retelling also suggests that even in tough situations, actors often form strong bonds, which can translate to better performances on screen.

Highlights

Such mishaps may lead to stronger on-screen chemistry.