Not used to being bad: Djimon Hounsou

LOS ANGELES - Everything you loved about 2010's animated hit How To Train Your Dragon is back.

Its highly anticipated sequel, opening here tomorrow, has the Viking residents of Berk now living side by side with dragons.

But it does not last for long as the fantastical isle's peace is threatened by the power-hungry Drago Bludvist, a man whose reputation is well known across lands for all the wrong reasons.

Breathing life into How To Train Your Dragon 2's antagonist is Oscar-nominated Djimon Hounsou, who is known for portraying intense and often formidable roles in movies such as Amistad (1997), Gladiator (2000), In America (2002) and Blood Diamond (2006) to full effect.

His role as Drago is no different, as the Beninese-American actor took the villainous role to heart in order to create a menacing voice fit for a dragon-hater.

"For Drago, I felt extremely challenged," the 50-year-old said at the movie's press junket in Beverly Hills.

"I remember seeing the first one and thought Gerry's (Gerard Butler's) voice had so much power and presence in the story. When I got called in for this, I kept telling myself I can outdo this man, challenge this man."

While co-star Butler's unforgettable voice as Berk's tribal chief, Stoick the Vast, still steals the show, Hounsou's iteration for Drago comes in a close second.

Coming up with such a formidable voice was no easy task, with Hounsou looking from within for inspiration.

"With a name like Drago Bludvist, it just takes you there for the voice.

"That name took me places that I never dreamt for a character, especially since I'm not used to playing the bad guy," he revealed.

Hounsou said that Drago's presence had to be dictated by his voice, and he took a few "tries" to come up with his character's voice.

"I was trying to do so many things and break my vocal chords, so it took a bit of going back and forth to perfect," he said.

SON CAN ENJOY MOVIE

Voicing Drago in How To Train Your Dragon 2 meant a lot since it was something his five-year-old son, Kenzo, could enjoy.

"Having a son, you want to keep your legacy going, which is why I wanted to be a part of an animated feature like this," he said.

"The first one I saw with my son and never dreamed about being in the second one."

Hounsou credited his son, whom he shares custody of with US reality TV star and ex-girlfriend Kimora Lee Simmons, as a major force behind the appeal of the role.

"When we play at home, he's the superhero and I'm the bad guy, and he's always beating me up.

"He was just excited I'm part of the movie, but I still had to give him a heads up on the character I'm playing so he understands that I was a bad guy and might be a bit scary." But Kenzo was far from scared, Hounsou said.

He took his boy to several recording sessions as well as the How To Train Your Dragon 2 red carpet premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last month.

With one animated film under his belt, Hounsou is now hoping to do more family-friendly flicks.

"Those films sustain a certain type of legacy since they're watched by different generations.

"There's nothing in the works right now, but I'm looking for more projects like it in the future," said Hounsou, whose upcoming superhero flick Guardians Of The Galaxy, opening here July 31, might just fit the bill.

He was just excited I'm part of the movie, but I still had to give him a heads up on the character I'm playing so he understands that I was a bad guy and might be a bit scary.

- Djimon Hounsou on his son Kenzo's excitement that he was in How To Train Your Dragon 2

Back to being good: Gerald Butler 

Gerald Butler had a lot more fun in sequel but wishes he could've recorded together with cast.

Gerald Butler got really, well, animated when talking about voicing the gregarious mountain of a man, Stoick the Vast, in How To Train Your Dragon 2.

When asked about reprising his role, the Scottish actor boomed with enthusiasm for the second chapter of the trilogy.

It has been four years since the 44-year-old first became the Viking tribal chief and protagonist Hiccup's (Jay Baruchel) father.

He is back - with even more love for the character.

What was it like revisiting Stoick?

It was a lot more fun. The pressure is off. Everyone's relaxed and they're not at constant war with the dragons.

Hiccup is doing great and becoming a man, he's growing up. It's a different world that's still full of adventure.

And I also feel my time is coming to an end, so I want to pass it on to him to be a leader.

In view of Father's Day, what sort of fatherly things does Stoick do in the sequel?

I think that Stoick wants to teach Hiccup that there's a time for fun and games.

The younger generation deals with challenges differently.

Stoick is trying to teach his son how to deal with a certain type of responsibility. Hiccup needs to think about the other people around him. He can't always deal with it in his headstrong way.

I think what's so important is that you see the love that Stoick has for his boy; the love everybody has for each other in this movie, really. They might not always agree or see eye to eye, but everybody really wants the best.

How was it going back into the recording booth? Did you work with any of the other actors?

Never on the movie.

And I specifically asked to spend time with Craig (Ferguson), who voices Stoick's good pal Gobber the Belch. We did on the first one and to be honest, I wish we could do that more. We didn't get the chance for this movie though.

But at this point, you know who you are. You know your voice and the guy and can put extra things in it. You can play with it more and that's what's cool about this movie.

How does this movie rank with all your others?

The first one is one of my favourite movies ever.

I was so blown away with it and even more so because of the crew that made it all happen. I was so impressed by the world they created.

That movie opened well at the box offices, but it ended up doing 10, 15 times what it did opening weekend, which was a testament.

And because I'm a worrywart, I kept thinking how we'd top the first one, but I think the second one is even better. It pushes the limits.

It's visually exhilarating yet never shies away from bringing up darker issues while keeping it exciting. I'm very proud to be a part of it.

- Kristie Bertucci

I think the second one is even better. It pushes the limits. It's visually exhilarating yet never shies away from bringing up darker issues while keeping it exciting. I'm very proud to be a part of it.

- Gerald Butler on the second instalment of the movie

This article was first published on June 11, 2014.
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