Meet Roy Taylor, the real-life hero behind the stunts in How to Train Your Dragon.
Every great movie needs heroes, but some of the most exciting moments on screen aren’t performed by the actors we see in the spotlight. They’re created by the fearless stunt teams working behind the scenes. One of those unsung heroes is Roy Taylor, the skilled stunt coordinator for How to Train Your Dragon.
Roy grew up in a council estate in South London with big dreams. He knew he wanted to be involved in movie stunts from the age of 8. Like many kids, he loved superhero films, but unlike most, Roy found out that the real action came from stunt professionals, not the actors. That’s when he decided, “If I want to be a superhero, I should become a stuntman.”
His path wasn’t easy. When he told his school career advisor about his dream, he was advised to “just be a mechanic like everyone else.” But Roy refused to take that path. He pursued his passion and showed that with enough drive, anything is possible.
Today, Roy’s career includes exciting and unpredictable days. He flies actors across rooftops, sets up fire stunts, and coordinates high-risk water scenes. His goal is straightforward: create thrilling cinematic moments while keeping everyone safe.
For Roy, stunt work is about more than just adrenaline; it’s about storytelling. “If someone is having a rough day, and the movie we worked on helps them escape into another world — even for just two hours — then that’s a powerful gift,” he says.
Roy Taylor’s story reminds us that real superheroes don’t always wear capes. Some are behind the camera, making the magic happen, one stunt at a time.