Borders beauty spot makes surprise appearance at Super Bowl - as new Indiana Jones trailer released
Last updated 14th Mar 2023
It's one of the most-watched sporting events on the planet.
And, last night (Sunday), a Borders beauty spot made a surprise appearance during this year's Super Bowl.
The Leaderfoot viaduct, near Melrose, was shown in a new trailer for the latest Indiana Jones movie screened during the televised showcase.
Filming for The Dial of Destiny - due out on June the 30th - took place in the region, and neighbouring Northumberland, in the summer of 2021.
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A-lister Harrison Ford and co-star Toby Jones can be seen walking through the grass towards the viaduct in the split-second clip from the fifth instalment of the big-screen franchise.
But the nearby Eildon Hills and River Tweed appear to have been replaced with more mountainous terrain.
Computer-generated imagery has also allowed for a military-type train, not present during filming, to be superimposed on the stunning setting - more than 50 years after the tracks were lifted from the river crossing.
It's hoped the movie's release will help attract more visitors to the Borders, and Bamburgh - where the Castle was also used as a backdrop; in a way similar to the impact the Harry Potter movies had on the Glenfinnan Viaduct, in the Highlands.
David Hope-Jones, the new chief executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, told us: "It's vital that we use these opportunities, and accolades, to really drive tourism through the summer months; but especially importantly in the spring and autumn, when our hotels aren't typically so full; and driving right through into the winter months, to turn our region into a year-round destination."
Pavilion Cinema boss Andrew Poole says he can't wait for the new Indiana Jones movie to be released.
He was among crowds who lined the opposite bank of the River Tweed to watch Harrison Ford, wearing his trademark leather jacket and brown fedora hat, film scenes for the blockbuster.
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"It's just great for the Borders, it's great for Borders tourism, it's great for us as a cinema operator in Galashiels," he said.
"When news came out that Avengers: Endgame was filmed in St Abbs we saw a boost in admissions and we immediately went over to visit, so there's no reason why this area can't also benefit.
"And let's hope now with Indiana Jones, it's going to lead to even more major film productions being shot here in the Borders."
You can view the full trailer here.
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