How to Train Your Dragon did an excellent job adapting the hit animated film to live-action, but in some ways, it was too faithful to the original, continuing with a strange choice about Astrid. Fortunately for DreamWorks and Universal, How to Train Your Dragon was a big box office hit that resonated with fans both new and old.

Live-action remakes are a curious trend in Hollywood. While most of the upcoming live-action remakes are coming from Disney, the success of How to Train Your Dragon could open the floodgates for other studios to do the same. These remakes have proven their potential for box office success and could be a great option for Universal, Sony, and more.

With even a live-action KPop Demon Hunters in development, now is a good time to reflect on how these films might succeed by updating certain elements. While the original films are generally beloved, these remakes provide an opportunity to fix certain smaller elements. One of these was missed with How to Train Your Dragon, but could factor into a sequel.

How To Train Your Dragon’s Remake Ignored Astrid’s Parents, Again

After Hiccup, Astrid is the most important character in How to Train Your Dragon, but her story, especially with her family, is unfortunately not given enough focus. Astrid is introduced as a cool, popular, and tough girl whom even Hiccup looks up to. The two are initially brought together during dragon training.

Their dynamic begins strained, especially as Hiccup shows weakness in fighting dragons. Astrid hopes to one day become chief of Berk, and Hiccup admits that she would be better suited for it than he. Considering he is the chief’s son, this outlook confuses Astrid, and sets up for a curious dynamic to unravel between the two.

In a film where Hiccup’s relationship with his father, Stoick, is given such prominent focus, it is strange that the origins of Astrid’s motivations are not explored more fully. She is a product of their island and follows the overall trend of belief that dragons should be fought, but it is unclear where her will and dedication came from.

One change that the How to Train Your Dragon remake could have made that would have helped to strengthen the story and themes of the film would have been to introduce Astrid’s parents. Understanding their influence on their rambunctious daughter and how her pᴀssions change throughout the film could be especially impactful.

Astrid’s parents were not a motivator in the original trilogy, and they only appeared briefly during her wedding in How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Inserting them as characters that only function in the background is an odd choice, and seems to be at odds with the larger themes of the series.

Hiccup’s story in the original trilogy saw him interacting with his father, and finding his mother. These familial elements are a huge part of the story, and motivate him throughout the events. Giving Astrid a similar path could be an effective way to extend those themes and explore them in a bigger way while also strengthening her role.

How To Train Your Dragon 2 Should Explore Astrid’s Relationship With Her Parents

The quick announcement of How to Train Your Dragon 2 shows that the sequel is a priority for the studio, and it would be ideal if they used this opportunity to improve upon the story of the animated sequel. The ages of the actors make the sequel’s time jump not possible, which could be the first of many changes.

The animated sequel takes place five years after the events of the original, and sees a mysterious dragon rider appear, who is later revealed to Hiccup’s lost mother, Valka. Drago Bludvist plays the primary villain, and the story was very well received, but is not looked upon now with as much esteem as the original.

A sequel to the live-action How to Train Your Dragon should lean into the opportunity to change things. While a story that centers around Hiccup’s mother makes thematic sense, the film has the chance to extend its examination of family by bringing in Astrid’s parents as well.

Seeing the relationship between Astrid and Hiccup explored in the larger context of their families during a period of change for Berk could make for a compelling addition to the story. Astrid and Hiccup’s relationship is an integral part of the original animated trilogy, but its intersections with both of their larger families could play a much more prominent role.

Bludvist could remain the villain the sequel, but this does not feel essential. What is more important is that the story of the film builds upon the themes of the original, even if that means crafting an entirely new story.

How to Train Your Dragon’s sequel won’t take long, and this new franchise could be a dependable property for Universal. Fortunately, the studio has the room and the flexibility to adjust its story in order to make it even stronger and more relevant to contemporary themes. Bringing in Astrid’s family would be the quickest way to do this.