New film showcases NI’s scenery

How to Train Your Dragon in Northern Ireland was not without its challenges.

Dragons tend to be pretty large, for one thing.

That is according to the film’s producer, David Cain.

“When they animated, they would draw it just to the convenient size they needed it to be,” he told BBC News NI.

“But when you’re working in real spaces, a large dragon is a large dragon and it takes up the space it needs.”

How to Train Your Dragon is the first live action version of the films in the hit animated series.

Directed by Dean DuBlois, it tells the story of how a human and dragon befriend each other, breaking generations of conflict between dragons and Vikings on the fictional isle of Berk.

And Berk was created in a number of locations in Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Dunseverick Castle on the north coast and Tollymore Forest.

Many visitors to Belfast’s Titanic Quarter will have noticed the battlements of the Viking village, for instance, built just across the road from the Titanic Studios.

The Sampson and Goliath cranes from the nearby shipyards towered over the set but the dragons left them alone.

And the sets certainly impressed Gerard Butler, one of the film’s stars as Stoick, the Viking leader.

“Experiencing those sets that then are dressed and are lit and have torches on fire in the great hall, people get caught up in that energy and they believe in the story,” he said in a behind-the-scenes film about the making of How to Train Your Dragon.

BBC News NI spoke to How to Train Your Dragon’s producer David Cain, just before President Trump’s announcement that tariffs could be applied to films made in foreign countries.

How to Train Your Dragon began life as a hugely successful animated trilogy of films from Dreamworks Animation.

And, according to David Cain, there are “all sorts of challenges” in turning an animated hit into a live action film, not just the size of the dragons.

“You’re trying to remake something that was loved and cherished and pay homage to the original and keep the original fans happy,” he told BBC News NI.

“While at the same time bringing something fresh and new to the table.”

In Belfast, the production spent several months in early 2024 filming at Belfast Harbour Studios and Titanic Studios.

“We also built substantial sets on our back lot,” David Cain said.

“Obviously a lot of our work takes place on the mythical island of Berk and its village, so we built a lot of our sets outside for natural light and natural weather.”

Audiences in Northern Ireland will quickly recognize the rugged coastline of Dunseverick, where teenagers Hiccup – played by Mason Thames – and Astrid – played by Nico Parker – have a heart-to-heart talk in one of the film’s key scenes.

Hiccup befriends the young dragon, Toothless, challenging Viking certainties and the conflict with the dragons.

David Cain said Northern Ireland was “doing everything right” in trying to attract more big films.

“I think you now have a ground of talent in crew,” he said.

“What we know as extras, the guys are just so good.

“You’ve got stages now – I know Belfast Harbour is kind of growing as a development and there’s other stages around.”

Six years after it ended, it is clear that Game of Thrones left a lasting legacy.

David Cain thinks that How to Train Your Dragon can also screen Northern Ireland to the world.

“Northern Ireland has always had a good reputation with the Game of Thrones HBO stuff that’s been done there and there’s been numerous films made there,” he said.

“We’re a big film and hopefully it’ll draw attention to the talent and locations and stages and the beauty that Northern Ireland has on offer.”

How to Train Your Dragon is in cinemas on 9 June.