Nico Parker, set to star as Astrid in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, isn’t sweating the backlash over her casting. In an interview with The Times of London, the 20-year-old British actress addressed social media complaints about her not matching the animated Astrid’s blonde hair and blue eyes from the 2010 DreamWorks hit. “For the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don’t care,” Parker said. “If I wouldn’t value your opinion on most things in life, I can’t value your opinion on my hair. If I did, I would go mad.”
Directed by Dean DeBlois, who also helmed the original animated trilogy, the remake hits theaters June 13, 2025, and sticks close to the story of Hiccup (Mason Thames), a young Viking who befriends the dragon Toothless, defying his dragon-slaying village. Parker, the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton and filmmaker Ol Parker, reflected on the lack of “mixed race or Black icons” in Hollywood during her childhood, calling it “really special” to see the industry evolve. “There’s still a long way to go — for women in general, in terms of new parts, original material and female-led stories,” she added, hoping to contribute to that change.
The cast includes Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick, Hiccup’s father, alongside Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, and others. DeBlois has expanded Astrid’s role, feeling she was “a little underserved” in the original, giving Parker a chance to bring fresh depth to the fierce warrior. While some fans crave a shot-for-shot remake, Parker hopes they’ll find something to love in this new take, which keeps the heart of the story that grossed $495 million worldwide.
Source: Variety