Behind the Scenes: How to Train Your Dragon Cast on Filming in Northern Ireland
Date Posted: May 27, 2025
NEW FEATURETTE
IN CINEMAS MONDAY JUNE 9
From three-time Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.
‘Working in Northern Ireland means that we are essentially stepping in to the world of Berk. You get the crashing sea, you get the rugged coastlines, the green rolling hills, the very changeable weather – all of those aspects that you think are associated to the island of Berk are here in plenty’
Dean deBlois, Director
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
Working in some of the locations we were working in – the Giant’s Causeway . . . Tollymore Forest – those places are so beautiful, and I really think it’s going to add a whole new extra element to the picture’
Roy Taylor, Stunt Coordinator
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
‘We filmed in such a beautiful location, I think it’s as true to Berk as it would be in real life . . . As an actor it’s the dream, it’s so much easier to become your character and step in to this world’
Nico Parker, Astrid
The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).
How to Train Your Dragon is written, produced and directed by DeBlois. It is also produced by three-time Oscar® nominee Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Drive, 2 Guns). How To Train Your Dragon is part of the Filmed For IMAX® Program, which offers filmmakers IMAX® technology to help them deliver the most immersive movie experience to audiences around the world.
‘All the footage we have from the most amazing landscapes create this living, breathing world of Berk’
Gerard Butler, Stoick
Inspired by Cressida Cowell’s New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
IN CINEMAS MONDAY JUNE 9
