How to train your dragon star Gerard Butler on Belfast, remote pubs and Viking helmets

Hollywood actor Gerard Butler has said he felt like Belfasts "adopted son" while filming How to Train Your Dragon in Northern Ireland.

The first live-action remake of the hit animated trilogy was produced across a number of locations in early 2024.

Ahead of its release in cinemas on 9 June, Universal confirmed a sequel will be made.

Gerard Butler told BBC News NI he "cant imagine" it being filmed anywhere other than back in Northern Ireland.

He plays the role of Viking leader Stoick, in the Dean DeBlois-directed story of a conflict between dragons and Vikings on the fictional isle of Berk.

The real-life locations that make up Berk in the film are in Belfast, Dunseverick Castle on the north Antrim coast and Tollymore Forest in County Down.

Speaking of his time living in Belfast, Gerard Butler described the locals as "his people".

"Theres not much of a difference whether youre in Glasgow or if youre in Belfast," he added.

"I felt like they felt like I was their son.

"Everybody just kind of adopts you, it was great, I loved being there."

The production spent several months filming at Belfast Harbour Studios and Titanic Studios.

"These sets are some of the best ever built," he said.

"And that was the Northern Irish crew and they did a great job. That wasnt easy to do.

"Because when you watch these animated films, you say how [are] you ever making this? How [are] you going to pull this off.

"And we did it."

The Scottish actor, who was born in Paisley, said he loved filming in Northern Ireland and was well used to the cold temperatures - when he wasnt wearing his huge costume.

"I say it was cold, [but] I was cold when I wasnt working. When I was working, I was hot.

"Everyone else was cold, but I had seven layers on. That costume was really heavy. I wore that for nine weeks.

"When Id everything on, it was 90 lbs.

"It was intense, but it also meant I could fully transform into Stoick - I felt like when I stepped onto that set, Ive got that helmet, Im like eight feet tall, like Im here, its hard not to notice."

Filming took place between mid-January to Mid-May 2024 in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Screen has told BBC News NI that the production returned over £59m to the local economy.

It also created a workforce of over 900 local people, employed across crew, cast and extras.

Northern Ireland Screen provided £2,050,000 to the production.

Away from the set, Butler caused quite a stir when spotted out and about in Belfast and nearby towns.

He said it could "get a bit crazy" at times, with fans keen to say hello.

On one occasion, he thought one bar, described as "an old mans pub", would be "cool" with him and create no fuss.

"I walked in and there were three different people who recognised me.

"And Im saying hello to them.

"The whole bar started moving our way, it was late at night, everyone was drunk.

"These guys said to us, well help you and they kind of pushed us back out the door - basically because it got so crazy in there.

"I had said to my manager before, this ones good, this is an olds mans pub. Theyll be cool… then barged back out the door, like OK, OK maybe not tonight," he added, laughing at the memory.

Speaking about the films sequel, he said he was "sure it will happen in Northern Ireland".

"I cant imagine it happening anywhere else. I know Dean [DeBlois] our director loved it there, loved the crew, everybody did.

"The people worked really hard. Its a lot of work to make these movies. This one was huge. So people there did a great job. He was over the moon with the whole crew. So I cant imagine it going anywhere else."

Meanwhile Butlers castmate Nick Frost also proclaimed his love of the city.

"Its full of history, its beautiful and I got to see the H&W cranes," the Shaun of the Dead star said.

"As a bit of an engineering fan, I loved that they were right where we shot. Its incredible. Love it."

As for returning to Northern Ireland to shoot a sequel, Frost admitted he had another preference.

"Id like them to shoot in my house or in the garden, if they could build a little set somewhere near my house."

Referring to the types of dragon featured in the movie, he added: "I could probably fit a Terrible Terror, but I couldnt fit a Night Fury."

The young stars of the film - Mason Thames who plays Hiccup and Nico Parker who plays Astrid - said it would be a joy to film "whereever it is".

"Northern Ireland would obviously be amazing because it would be like a big reunion," Thames said.

"I think well go back there regardless."

The pair described the filming conditions as "freezing on the north coast", but "gorgeous".

They admitted their love for the Northern Irish accent, and also revealed a case of food poisoning that afflicted the entire crew - except, that is, for Mason Thames who said he escaped the bug thanks to his first attempt at cold-water swimming.

Given the temperatures however, he said it was an activity he wouldnt be trying again.