Hollywood star Gerard Butler whips up a storm

Scot plays Arbroath lighthouse keeper as historical thriller is shot in Borders

Hollywood A-lister Gerard Butler has started filming his role as an Arbroath lighthouse keeper for a new movie.

Butler and a 60-strong crew have shaken up a quiet corner of Dumfries and Galloway where they have been shooting psychological thriller Keepers.

The Paisley-born actor plays Arbroath lighthouse keeper James Ducat, one of three men to vanish without a trace from the island of Eilean Mor in the Outer Hebrides in 1900.

A Mull of Galloway Lighthouse spokesperson said: “Gerard Butler fever is sweeping the Rhins of Galloway just now. We were delighted to welcome Gerard Butler, Peter Mullan and Connor Swindells to the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse and Mull of Galloway Lighthouse Holiday Cottages.”

Butler has been getting plenty of attention in Galloway, surprising staff at the Gallie Craig coffee shop.

Owner Angela Sloan said: “They were posing for photos with people and some of them bought cakes.

“Gerard seemed like a really down to earth guy, very accommodating and happy to take photos with people too.”

Butler plays Ducat, a 43-year-old who had arrived on the deserted island to man the lighthouse with Thomas Marshall and Donald McArthur.

Just a few weeks into their stint, on December 15, a passing steamer noticed the light was off, which it reported.

A relief vessel, the Hesperus, carrying supplies and a relief lighthouse keeper Joseph Moore, had been due to arrive on Eilean Mor on December 20 but had been delayed until Boxing Day due to rough seas and dangerous weather.

Mr Moore rowed to shore and found the lighthouse in complete darkness. Inside the beds were unmade, a chair had been overturned and a pair of oilskins was still on its hook, indicating one of the men had gone outside without dressing for the wild winter weather.

In the days afterward, the crew of the Hesperus made thorough searches of the island, hoping to find a clue.

Turf on top of a 200ft cliff had been ripped away from the edge but there was no sign of any of the men.

The lighthouse log was kept up to date until December 15. The final entry read: ‘Storm ended, sea calm. God is over all’.

Above: Gerard Butler with Alison Smith, Maureen Chand and Dianne James from the Mull of Galloway Trust, and, right, with fans at Mull of Galloway Lighthouse during a break in filming.

From left: Thomas Marshall, James Ducat and Donald McArthur with NLB superintendent Robert Muirhead.