Dean DeBlois, director of the live-action adaptation of cast of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon adaptation includes Mason Thames, Gerard Butler, and Nick Frost. Ever since it was announced that Nico Parker would be portraying Astrid in the live-action movie, some people have criticized the casting choice since Parker is Black, while the animated version of Astrid was White.

Recently, DeBlois posted his response to the criticisms on Instagram, defending the casting choice. The director argued that it makes sense for Astrid to be Black in the world of the live-action film, and insisted that Parker was the best actor for the role. This is because of her impressive audition that embodied the original character, alongside how the movie would be approaching the makeup of dragon riders featured in the story. Read his full comment below:

Exactly. We auditioned many actors for the roles, including actors who looked like their animated counterparts. But we chose the actors who best embodied the spirit and personality of the characters, since the tribe in this version is made up of descendants of the finest dragon fighters from everywhere the Vikings had ever traveled (which historically was far and wide - Vikings mixed with many cultures). Still, we're crafting a fantasy, not historical fact, and all will be revealed in time. We're not making a shot for shot remake. We just struck close to key moments to honor the original - which I remain very proud of. The tease features a few of those moments. Instead of a completely new tale, we aimed to embellish and deepen, without abandoning the story that fans love.

What Nico Parker's Astrid Casting Means For The How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Movie

Nico Parker's Astrid Will Be A Major Character In The How To Train Your Dragon Movie

Parker is a young actor, but she has previously earned acclaim for her role as Sarah Miller in HBO's The Last of Us. This role, in addition to her other movie and TV show appearances, proves that she is a talented and rising actor. Astrid is one of the most important characters in the How to Train Your Dragon animated films since she is a fierce Viking warrior who ends up being Hiccup's love interest. Based on DeBlois' comments, it is clear he is confident that Parker did a great job portraying Astrid's young and sometimes reckless energy.

Even though there is no reason for DeBlois to feel like he has to justify casting a Black actor to play Astrid, the director pushed back against people who are calling the casting historically inaccurate. He pointed out that the tribe that will be seen in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon is made up of descendants of the best dragon fighters from everywhere the Vikings traveled. Therefore, since the Vikings traveled very far from their homeland, Astrid being Black doesn't affect the story's realism.

Our Take On Nico Parker's Casting As Astrid In How To Train Your Dragon

It's A Perfect Casting Choice Despite The Backlash It's Receiving

Unfortunately, the first trailer for How to Train Your Dragon did not include Parker as Astrid. Instead, it focused on Butler's Stoick, Mason Thames' Hiccup, and Toothless. However, she is featured in the behind-the-scenes video for How to Train Your Dragon. In the video, Parker looks like she fits right into the world of How to Train Your Dragon and embodies Astrid perfectly. Therefore, fans should be excited to see more of her character when the movie is released in 2025.

While some may still be skeptical of her casting, live-action films casting actors based on their embodiment of the character instead of their race isn't anything new. Disney's Snow White adaptation will see Rachel Zegler, a Latina actor, step into the titular role. These examples prove how reimaginings of animated features can adjust to changing the race of important characters for the sake of a memorable performance. It also exemplifies why Parker's casting shouldn't be the cause for any controversy.

Characters outside live-action remakes of animated movies have also had their race changed from the source material to accommodate strong performances, like Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked and Leah Jeffries as Annabeth in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Given How to Train Your Dragon's trailer features plenty of accuracy to the original, more footage of Parker as Astrid may convince a wider audience of how perfect she is for the role. With the trailer already featuring the classic meeting between Hiccup and Toothless, scenes of The Last of Us star's character might also be directly translated from the original. This could further prove just how well she fits the role, as audiences see her embody the original character through familiar scenes.

Read More About How To Train Your Dragon's Live-Action Remake

Parker's Performance Can Elevate The Retelling

With Casting Parker as Astrid is part of that creative vision, emphasizing how nobody else could have perfected the character like her. It also proves DreamWorks' projects are prioritizing quality, no matter public reactions.

While other highly-anticipated DreamWorks projects like Disney's live-action remakes over the last decade. Perhaps Parker's performance can help drive this path forward for the studio, her embodiment of Astrid being enough to shut down criticism of her casting.

Key Background

• Nico Parker was cast as Astrid in How to Train Your Dragon in May 2023.
• Filming began on Janury 15, 2024, and lasted until May 16, 2024.
• "How to Train Your Dragon | A First Look" video was released by Universal Pictures on November 20, 2024, which shows Parker as Astrid for the first time.

Source: Dean DeBlois/Instagram

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How to Train Your Dragon

PG

Action

Adventure

Family

Release Date

June 13, 2025

Runtime

116 Minutes

Director

Dean DeBlois

Writers

Dean DeBlois

Franchise(s)

How to Train Your Dragon

Cast

See All

• 
  Mason Thames

  Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
• 
  Nico Parker

  Astrid Hofferson
• 
  Gerard Butler

  Stoick the Vast
• 
  Nick Frost

  Gobber the Belch

How to Train Your Dragon, set on the Viking island of Berk, follows Hiccup, a young Viking who challenges tradition by befriending a Night Fury dragon named Toothless. Their bond reveals new insights about dragons and transforms Viking society's understanding of these creatures.

Studio(s)

DreamWorks Pictures

Distributor(s)

Universal Pictures

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