Gerard Butler Calls Belfast His Second Home While Praising ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Team
You know, sometimes you watch a film and love it so much, then hear that it’s getting a live-action remake—and you get nervous. “Don’t ruin it!” you think. But I’m here to tell you, if anyone can carry that legacy forward with integrity and heart, it’s Gerard Butler. The man is back in the saddle—or should I say, back on the dragon—as Stoick the Vast in the much-anticipated live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon , and he’s doing it with more soul and pride than ever.
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Now here’s the thing that really struck me: Butler didn’t just show up, say some lines, and leave. He immersed himself in the experience—especially the time he spent in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where much of the movie was filmed. In fact, he said he felt like Belfast’s “adopted son” while working there. That says a lot, right? And the praise didn’t stop there—he went out of his way to credit the local Northern Irish crew behind the production. According to him, they should be immensely proud of what they’ve created, and honestly, I think that kind of acknowledgment doesn’t come lightly from someone of his caliber.
Butler also opened up about the challenge of reprising Stoick—not just repeating what he’d done in the animated trilogy, but evolving the role for a live-action audience. He wanted to keep the character fresh while staying true to what fans loved. He joked that he’s no longer in pajamas behind a mic—he’s in full costume, living and breathing Stoick from sunrise to sunset. That transition has apparently been both challenging and deeply rewarding for him.
And how cool is this—when director Dean DeBlois rang him up and invited him to come to Belfast just to see what they were building for the film, Butler was immediately sold. That speaks volumes about the scale and passion behind this remake. DeBlois, who directed the original animated trilogy, has stepped into the live-action world for the first time, and he too has promised to capture the same wonder and emotional depth that made the original films so beloved.
With the movie set to hit theaters on June 13th, it’s not just a nostalgia trip—it’s a bold retelling. Butler’s involvement, his enthusiasm for Belfast, and his admiration for the local team make it all the more exciting. And the fact that a sequel is already greenlit? Well, that tells you everything you need to know about the buzz this film is generating.
So yeah, whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original trilogy or just curious about how a live-action Viking-dragon tale will play out—this one looks like it’s worth the ride. And as Gerard Butler puts it, the crew behind it, especially those in Northern Ireland, have created something truly special.
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