Where was How to Train Your Dragon filmed? Filming locations of the live-action remake, explored

The live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon has been filmed across Northern Ireland.

The film is helmed and penned by Dean DeBlois, who has directed the animated franchise as well. After its debut at CinemaCon, the film is set to make its theatrical release on 13th June 2025.

This live-action film narrates the story of the original animated film. It is set in the Viking world, where humans' and dragons' relationship has been deeply strained for years. However, Hiccup, a soft and sensitive teen, begins a beautiful relationship of love, camaraderie, and compassion with Toothless, a dragon.

Let us find out more details about the filming locations of How to Train Your Dragon.

Filming locations of How to Train Your Dragon

The beautiful terrain of Northern Ireland has been picked as the filming location for the film. This is the same place where the immensely successful epic drama series Game of Thrones was also filmed.

This seems to be the perfect location for the world How to Train Your Dragon is set in, as it encompasses natural scenic views along with an element of fantastical enchantment. Filming took place in 2024, commencing in the middle of January, which is the 15th. Within a span of 5 months, the shooting commenced on 16th May 2024.

1) Belfast Harbour Studio and Titanic Studios

The Belfast Harbour Studio marks the first location of its filming. It is a newly established studio that encompasses a massive space of up to 107,000 square feet. As per their official website, films produced by Netflix, including The School for Good & Evil (2022) and the 2024 film Lift, have been shot in this studio.

Along with this, Titanic Studios, which is considered to be the biggest in Europe, is also another studio where the film has been shot. Many big banner films and series in association with production houses such as Universal Studios, HBO, etc., have been shot in this studio.

The visuals of flying dragons are all created in these two studios, as they have been at the forefront of the scintillating CGI work of the film.

2) Murlough Bay

A still from 'How to Train Your Dragon' | Image via @Youtube/UniversalPictures

Some important scenes of the film have been shot in this faraway location, which includes the visuals of the dragon's flight scenes. Even high-stakes emotional scenes, such as Hiccup and Stoick the Vast's conflicting conversations, have also been shot in this particular location.

Large rocks, water bodies, and mountainous terrain are some of the remarkable sights of this location.

3) Giant’s Causeway

This particular landform, which is regarded as one of the heritage sites of the world by UNESCO, is also one of the filming locations of How to Train Your Dragon. These rock-strewn terrains are formed due to hexagonal-shaped basalt stones accumulating together, emerging out of the water body.

4) Dunseverick Castle

Considered to be one of the most important sites in Ireland, these remnants of a castle are recorded to date back to the 5th century AD. This location has been one of the filming locations as well, as it gives an authentic, dramatic feeling of a castle with the ocean surrounding it.

5) Tollymore Forest Park

The lush, green forest areas of this location have been used for its filming. The dense forests give a sense of mysticism and fantasy, which is a perfect setting as a home for tales about dragons.

With hints of mystery, drama, and intensity in its visuals, it blends in perfectly with the ethos of the storyline.