Mason Thames is one of the young American actors who has quickly attracted attention through a combination of television appearances, emotionally demanding film roles, and major franchise projects. After gaining widespread recognition as Finney Blake in The Black Phone, he continued building his career with projects across horror, comedy, drama, and adventure.
In 2026, Mason Thames is entering an important new stage of his career. His role as Hiccup in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon has introduced him to a much broader international audience, while his upcoming and recent projects show that he is not limiting himself to one genre.
This complete guide covers Mason Thames’ biography, age, early career, movies, TV shows, breakthrough role, Hiccup character, 2026 projects, acting journey, and future career.
Quick Guide to Mason Thames
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mason Thames |
| Date of Birth | July 10, 2007 |
| Age in 2026 | 19 years |
| Profession | Actor |
| Nationality | American |
| Best Known For | The Black Phone, How to Train Your Dragon |
| Breakthrough Character | Finney Blake |
| Major Franchise Role | Hiccup |
| Acting Career | Film and Television |
| Years Active | 2017–Present |
| Major 2026 Project | Idiots |
| Upcoming Project | How to Train Your Dragon 2 |
Who Is Mason Thames?
Mason Thames is an American actor who became widely recognized after starring as Finney Blake in the supernatural horror film The Black Phone.
Although he was young when the movie was made, the role required a strong emotional performance because much of the story revolves around Finney’s struggle to survive a terrifying situation.
The success and attention surrounding The Black Phone helped Thames move into larger productions. Instead of remaining focused only on horror, he began taking roles in different genres, including comedy, romance, family adventure, and drama.
His growing filmography shows a young performer developing from television work into major feature-film roles.
Mason Thames’ Early Life and Performing Background
Before becoming known internationally as an actor, Mason Thames developed experience as a performer through dance.
He trained in ballet and performed professionally at a young age. His dance background required discipline, physical control, concentration, and extensive rehearsal.
This experience became an important part of his early development as a performer. Ballet also gave him an understanding of movement and physical storytelling, skills that can be useful when working in film and television.
Eventually, Thames moved his focus toward acting and began appearing in professional screen productions.
Mason Thames’ Acting Debut
Thames began developing his television career with an appearance in the science-fiction drama For All Mankind.
The series gave him an opportunity to gain experience in a professional television environment and work alongside established actors.
Although his early roles were smaller than the major parts that followed, they provided valuable experience and helped establish his screen career.
He later appeared in Walker, further expanding his television credits.
These early projects were important stepping stones before he received the role that would change his career.
The Black Phone: Mason Thames’ Breakthrough
For many audiences, Mason Thames is best known for playing Finney Blake in The Black Phone.
The horror film follows Finney, a teenager who becomes trapped by a dangerous kidnapper. During his captivity, he discovers a mysterious telephone that becomes connected to previous victims.
Thames carries a significant portion of the movie, making the performance particularly demanding.
Finney is not presented as a traditional action hero. Instead, he is an ordinary teenager who has to find courage and intelligence in an extraordinary situation.
The role allowed Thames to demonstrate emotional range and helped establish him as a promising young leading actor.
Mason Thames and Black Phone 2
Thames returned as Finney in Black Phone 2, continuing the story introduced in the original film.
Returning to the character gave him the opportunity to explore Finney beyond the events of the first movie.
The sequel also demonstrated the continued connection between Thames and one of the projects that played a major role in establishing his career.
His involvement in both films remains an important part of his filmography.
Mason Thames as Hiccup
Another major milestone in Mason Thames’ career came when he was selected to play Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III in the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon.
Hiccup is one of the best-known characters in the franchise. He is a young Viking who develops a special friendship with Toothless, a dragon who changes his understanding of the world around him.
Playing Hiccup required Thames to take on a character already familiar to millions of fans through the animated films.
The live-action movie gave him a completely different type of performance challenge from The Black Phone. Instead of a contained horror story, he was working on a large-scale adventure involving action, fantasy, visual effects, and a famous fictional world.
How to Train Your Dragon
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon became one of the most significant projects of Thames’ young career.
As Hiccup, he had to portray a character who develops throughout the story. Hiccup begins as a young Viking who does not fit the traditional image of a warrior, but his relationship with Toothless helps him discover another way of understanding dragons and his own community.
Thames’ performance introduced him to audiences who may not have previously seen him in The Black Phone.
The role also established a connection between the young actor and one of the biggest family-oriented fantasy franchises of his career.
How to Train Your Dragon 2
One of the biggest developments for Mason Thames in 2026 is his return as Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon 2.
The sequel continues the live-action story and brings back key characters from the first film.
Production on the sequel moved forward during 2026, with Thames returning to the role that has become one of his most recognizable characters.
The second movie is particularly significant because Hiccup’s story continues to develop as he becomes older and faces new responsibilities.
For Thames, returning to the character provides an opportunity to show how his performance can evolve with the role.
Mason Thames Movies
Mason Thames has already appeared in a variety of feature films.
Some of his notable movie credits include:
- The Black Phone
- Black Phone 2
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Monster Summer
- Incoming
- Regretting You
- Nimrods
- Idiots
These movies demonstrate the range of projects he has taken on during the early stages of his career.
His work includes horror, comedy, adventure, romance, drama, and family entertainment.
Mason Thames in Regretting You
Regretting You represents another different direction for Thames.
The film is based on a story by Colleen Hoover and focuses on complicated family relationships, grief, love, and personal growth.
Thames plays Miller Adams, giving him another opportunity to work in an emotionally driven story rather than a horror or fantasy production.
The project is another example of his expanding range as an actor.
Mason Thames in Idiots
In 2026, Thames is also associated with the comedy project Idiots.
The film gives him a chance to explore a lighter style of storytelling.
Thames plays Sheridan, while the movie also features established performers including Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Comedy can require a very different performance style from horror or dramatic roles. Timing, reactions, dialogue delivery, and chemistry with other actors become particularly important.
For Thames, the project adds another genre to an already diverse early filmography.
Mason Thames TV Shows
Although Thames has become increasingly known for movies, television was an important part of his early career.
His notable television work includes:
For All Mankind
This science-fiction drama marked one of his early professional screen appearances and gave him experience in serialized television.
Walker
Thames also appeared in Walker, expanding his television experience and working within a popular modern Western-style drama.
His television roles helped him develop the experience needed for larger film productions.
Mason Thames’ Acting Style
One of the most interesting aspects of Thames’ career is his ability to move between very different characters.
Finney in The Black Phone is a frightened teenager forced to become courageous.
Hiccup is an imaginative young Viking who questions the traditions around him.
Miller in Regretting You belongs to an emotional romantic drama, while his role in Idiots moves toward comedy.
These roles require different approaches, which makes his developing filmography more varied than many young actors’ careers at the same stage.
Mason Thames’ Ballet Experience
Thames’ ballet background is an unusual and interesting part of his biography.
Dance training can help performers develop coordination, balance, rhythm, body awareness, and discipline.
Those abilities can become particularly useful in physically demanding film productions.
His transition from professional dance into acting also demonstrates that his performance experience began long before his best-known movie roles.
Mason Thames Career Timeline
| Year | Career Development |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Early professional acting work |
| 2019 | Television work including For All Mankind |
| 2021 | Breakthrough with The Black Phone |
| 2021–2022 | Appeared in Walker |
| 2024 | Continued feature-film work |
| 2025 | Played Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon |
| 2025 | Continued major film projects |
| 2026 | Appears in Idiots |
| 2026 | Returns as Hiccup for How to Train Your Dragon 2 |
| 2027 | Expected continuation of the live-action franchise |
Why Mason Thames’ Career Is Getting Attention
Mason Thames’ career is notable because of the speed at which he has moved from early television roles to major feature films.
His breakthrough in The Black Phone demonstrated his ability to lead a serious genre movie. His later casting as Hiccup placed him in a completely different type of production and connected him with a major international franchise.
At the same time, his work in comedy and drama shows that he is exploring different types of characters instead of relying on a single successful role.
This variety could become one of the defining characteristics of his career as he moves into adulthood.
What Is Next for Mason Thames?
The most significant upcoming chapter is his continued role as Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon 2.
The project gives Thames the opportunity to return to a character that has become closely associated with his career.
At the same time, projects such as Idiots and his other recent films show that he is continuing to explore different genres.
As he gets older, audiences will likely see him take on more mature characters and increasingly varied roles.
Final Thoughts
Mason Thames has already achieved a great deal at a young age. From his early television appearances and ballet background to his breakthrough as Finney Blake in The Black Phone, his career has developed steadily.
His portrayal of Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon represents another major milestone and has introduced him to an even wider audience.
In 2026, Thames is continuing to expand his filmography through projects such as Idiots while returning to the world of Hiccup and Toothless for How to Train Your Dragon 2.
With experience across horror, adventure, comedy, romance, drama, and family entertainment, Mason Thames has developed a diverse early career and remains one of the young actors to watch as he enters the next stage of his professional journey.
