The 300 star has been promoting his role in controversial movie Machine Gun Preacher, a true-life story based on a Hells Angel who rescues orphans in Muslim-dominant Sudan after converting to Christianity.

Butler was forced to hire more bodyguards when he took to the red carpet at the Canadian festival after reportedly receiving a string of threatening messages.

A source tells Scotland's Daily Record, ""It is quite a controversial subject and some people are upset by the strong religious theme. We are treating this matter seriously.""