AB6IX Lee Dae Hwi Will Voice ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ Hiccup in Korean Version of Live-Action Film

AB6IX member Lee Dae Hwi has been cast to be the voice of Hiccup in the Korean dubbing of the upcoming live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” film. The announcement was made on May 20 through the K-Pop group’s official Instagram account, which stated that Lee Dae Hwi participated in the Korean dubbing and asked fans for support and anticipation.

The live-action adaptation of DreamWorks’ popular animated franchise is directed by Dean DeBlois, who previously directed the original animated trilogy. The film stars Mason Thames as Hiccup, Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast, Nico Parker as Astrid Hofferson, and Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch. The story follows Hiccup, a Viking boy who forms an unlikely friendship with a Night Fury dragon he names Toothless, challenging centuries of tradition between Vikings and dragons.

Lee Dae Hwi, born on January 29, 2001, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and producer who gained fame through his participation in “Produce 101 Season 2,” where he finished third and became a member of Wanna One. He later joined AB6IX and has worked as a television personality, including hosting duties for “M Countdown.”

The casting decision for Lee Dae Hwi got mixed reactions among Korean moviegoers. Some fans of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise expressed disappointment that the role was not given to a professional voice actor. Critics noted that previous Korean versions featured actor Oh Seung Yoon in the original 2010 film and renowned voice actor Shin Yong Woo in the 2012 television adaptation. Comments on Korean forums included criticism about celebrities taking jobs from professional voice actors and calls for proper training before taking on such roles.

However, supporters of the K-Pop star argued that criticism should be directed at the production company’s casting decisions rather than the individual performer. This controversy echoes similar reactions to other DreamWorks films that cast K-Pop idols for Korean dubbing, including “Trolls Band Together,” which featured Red Velvet’s Wendy and RIIZE’s Eunseok.

The “How to Train Your Dragon” animated trilogy has been successful in South Korea, with the first film attracting 2.59 million viewers, the second reaching 2.99 million, and the third drawing 1.5 million moviegoers. As of May 20, the live-action film held a 6.2% reservation rate, ranking fifth in advance bookings. The film will premiere in South Korea on June 6, 2025, before its global release on June 13, according to Gizmodo.

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