Gerard Butler's 90-Pound Viking Costume and the Real Locations of How to Train Your Dragon

Gerard Butler's How to Train Your Dragon Experience: 90-Pound Costumes and Real-Life Locations. Filming the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon presented unique challenges for its cast and crew. Actor Gerard Butler, reprising his role as Stoick, revealed that he wore a 90-pound Viking costume throughout filming. 'It was the five pieces of hell,' he recounted. The production team chose Belfast, Ireland, for its dramatic coastal landscapes, opting for real locations over sound stages. Director Dean DeBlois emphasized using real locations to ground the fantastical elements in reality. This decision added authenticity to the film's backdrop, providing a visually stunning and immersive experience for viewers.