What challenges did Mason Thames face when transitioning between his roles in How to Train Your Dragon and Black Phone 2?

Mason Thames revealed that he sometimes struggled to fully shed the mannerisms and vocal patterns of his Hiccup character when filming Black Phone 2, with the director having to remind him to avoid sounding like the beloved dragon rider.

How did Mason Thames feel about being named PEOPLE's Sexiest New Heartthrob?

While Thames was surprised and amused by the honor, he expressed gratitude for the recognition, joking, "Hell, yeah. As you should be." However, he also mentioned that his friends teased him about the title.

What rare milestone did Mason Thames achieve in 2025?

Thames became the first actor since Jim Carrey in 1994 to have three #1 films at the box office in a single year, with his trio of hits including How to Train Your Dragon, Black Phone 2, and Regretting You.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Sexiest New Heartthrob Mason Thames Navigates Shifting Roles

Sexiest New Heartthrob Mason Thames Navigates Shifting Roles

16 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Transitioned from playing Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon to Finney in Black Phone 2
Honored to be named PEOPLE's Sexiest New Heartthrob, though friends tease him about it
Achieved rare milestone of 3 #1 films in 2025, joining Jim Carrey's 1994 feat

Sexiest New Heartthrob Mason Thames Navigates Shifting Roles

In a recent interview, 18-year-old actor Mason Thames opened up about the challenges of transitioning between his recent roles. Just last year, Thames played the character of Hiccup in the live-action kids' movie How to Train Your Dragon. He then went on to reprise his role as Finney in the dark horror sequel Black Phone 2, which launched his career in 2021.

Thames admitted that he sometimes struggled to fully shed the mannerisms and vocal patterns of Hiccup when filming Black Phone 2, with the director having to remind him to avoid sounding like the beloved dragon rider. Despite the difficulty, Thames was grateful for the opportunity to return to the world of Black Phone, saying it was a "surreal experience" to revisit the complicated character of Finney.