Gerard Butler says invite to Belfast convinced him to reprise role in How to Train Your Dragon
The Scot was just one of the stars who hit the red carpet in the US for the Los Angeles premiere, taking place at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, of the new live-action film made in Northern Ireland.
Butler is again playing the role of Viking chief Stoik the Vast, 15 years after providing the voice for the character in the original animated version.
The actor was pictured enjoying a hug on the red carpet with co-star Nico James, who plays Viking heroine Astrid, and being joined by 17-year-old actor Mason Thames, who takes on the lead role of Hiccup.
Speaking in Hollywood as he attended the premiere, Butler said his performance almost didn't happen and that it took a call from director Dean DeBlois, inviting him to Belfast, to convince him.
'When I first heard it was happening, I was like: 'Are you guys crazy? That's going to be terrible,'' he said.
'But Dean told me to come spend a day in Belfast and see what they were building, how the dragons are going to look, how the world was going to look. And when I saw that, I was like: 'OK, I get it all.'
'I mean, I kind of got it anyway — I just wanted to play a bit hard to get!'
Butler's initial reluctance, according to director DeBlois, 'was distressing to me'.
'But then the actors' strike happened and shifted production schedules in a way that allowed him to do the film.
'When Gerry came in, I felt a great sense of confidence and comfort, like, oh, this going to work now.'
Inspired by Cressida Cowell's New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon franchise has earned four Academy Award nominations and grossed more than $1.6bn at the global box office.
The new movie has been supported by NI Screen, which said: 'Over 900 local cast, crew and extras brought How to Train Your Dragon to life, right here in NI — from set builds at Belfast Harbour Studios and Titanic Studios to breath-taking location shoots across Tollymore Forest, Dunseverick Castle, Murlough Bay and the Giant's Causeway.
'Their work generated over £59m for our local economy, showcasing the scale and impact of NI's screen industry.
'Thanks to Universal Pictures and ongoing support from the Department for the Economy, our region continues to be a sought-after destination for world-class productions — and a home for outstanding screen talent.'
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