GERARD BUTLER ON WHY ALULA IS HIS FAVOURITE LOCATION

What he saw in Saudi Arabia reminded him of what cinema once meant everywhere: joy, awe, and togetherness

- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment Editor

just a few years ago, going to the movies in Saudi Arabia was unheard of. Today, it’s a red carpet reality — complete with cheering fans, cinematic milestones, and global stars like Gerard Butler taking centre stage.

The Scottish actor, best known for his roles in 300, Olympus Has Fallen, and the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, was in Riyadh recently for the regional premiere of The Hidden World.

His visit wasn’t just a PR pit-stop — it felt personal, purposeful, and full of admiration for a region that’s rewriting its own cinematic script.

“I'd always wanted to come to Saudi Arabia,” Butler said in an exclusive video interview with Gulf News.

“tt had always been this kind of land that was very mystical and mysterious, you know, and now | think that it’s being opened up to the world.”

KANDAHAR EXPERIENCE

Saudi Arabia lifted its 35year ban on cinemas in 2018 as part of ‘Vision 2030’, a reform plan, led by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. Since then, the country has quickly transformed from film-free zone to a budding entertainment capital — hosting red carpets, festivals, and major international productions.

Butler experienced that shift first-hand when he shot his action thriller, Kandahar, in AlUla, one of the Kingdom’s most visually striking regions.

“I loved my experience on Kandahar,” he recalled. “I loved AlUla. It was maybe my favourite location that | filmed on.”

But it wasn’t just the dramatic desert backdrop that left an impression. It was the people of Saudi Arabia.