Director Dean DeBlois is defending Nico Parker‘s casting as Astrid in the upcoming live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, stating that they have created a fantasy movie, not one based on “historical fact.”
Some have criticized the decision to cast a Black actress as Astrid, whose animated counterpart was White. DeBlois, who is also the filmmaker behind all three How to Train Your Dragon animated movies, has responded to the criticisms about Parker’s casting.
What did the How to Train Your Dragon live-action director say about Nico Parker’s casting as Astrid?
An Instagram user on a How to Train Your Dragon page pointed out that the voice actress behind the animated version of Astrid was America Ferrera, who happens to be a Latina. DeBlois then responded, sharing his comment via an Instagram post. He accompanied it with the caption, “Nico Parker is amazing. Just wait and see.”
“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),” DeBlois wrote.
“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 stuck close to key moments to honor the original – which I remain very proud of. The teaser 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.”
In addition to Parker, the live-action adaptation also stars Mason Thames as Hiccup, Gerard Butler as Stoick the Vast, Nick Frost as Gobber the Belch, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs Ingerman, Gabriel Howell as Snotlout Jorgenson, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut Thorston, Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut Thorston, and Ruth Codd as Phlegma.
How to Train Your Dragon was initially scheduled to open on March 14, 2025. However, due to delays caused by the Hollywood strikes, the adaptation’s release date has been moved to June 13, 2025.