How To Train Your Dragon 2’s Live-Action Hiccup Ally Is “Like A Dragon-Esque Jack Sparrow,” Says New Star

Phil Dunster, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Jamie Tartt on Ted Lasso, was recently cast as Eret, a character originally voiced by Game of Thrones star Kit Harington in the animated film.

Now Dunster is speaking out about what it’s like following in the footsteps of Harington and describing what his character is like. He told Cinemablend that Eret has a “swashbuckling” nature to his personality. “He had a little bit of Jack Sparrow in him,” explained Dunster, who described the character as being like a “dragon-esque Jack Sparrow.”

“His whole, like, swashbuckling…He had a little bit of Jack Sparrow in him, like a dragon-esque Jack Sparrow.”

The actor also appreciates the “template” that already exists with Harington. He’s been able to look at how the Game of Thrones alum brought Eret to life in animated form using just his voice and figure out a path forward to embody the character in the upcoming live-action iteration.

“It’s honestly so much fun to do that, and it’s so nice to have the template that’s already existing.”

Production on How to Train Your Dragon 2 has already gotten underway, and Dunster has found the experience to be “so much fun.“

He called it a “joyful set,” made even more enjoyable by the leadership of director/writer/producer Dean DeBlois, who has helmed every film in this franchise (animated and live-action alike) so far. “Dean, the director…he’s made this world, and everyone’s living on it. It’s beautiful,” Dunster explained.

“And it’s such a joyful set. And Dean, the director, was just like–he’s made this world, and everyone’s living in it. It’s beautiful.”

Eret appeared in How to Train Your Dragon and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. The character is a dragon trapper who works for the villain Drago Bludvist. Eventually, Eret sees the error of his ways after almost dying at the hands of Drago and teams up with the dragon riders.

Aside from Ted Lasso, Dunster’s credits also include Murder on the Orient Express, Judy, Strike Back, The Devil’s Hour and Steve Carell’s upcoming HBO series Rooster.

Dunster’s co-stars in How to Train Your Dragon 2 include Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Harry Trevaldwyn, Bronwyn James and Gerard Butler. Cate Blanchett is also joining the film as Valka Haddocka, the same character she voiced in the animated movies.

The first live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake, released in 2025, debuted at No. 1 on opening weekend and went on to gross $636 million at the box office throughout its theatrical run. The movie is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a critic score of 77% and audience score of 97%.

At the upcoming Saturn Awards, How to Train Your Dragon is nominated for Best Fantasy Film, Best Film Visual/Special Effects and Best Younger Performer in a Film (Thames).

Before the first movie was even released, Universal had announced a sequel, which will be a remake of How to Train Your Dragon 2, in which dragon rider Hiccup reunites with his mother after assuming she had died.

How to Train Your Dragon 2 will be released in theaters on Friday, June 11, 2027.