How To Train Your Dragon star Nico Parker addresses the backlash concerning her casting as the live-action Astrid. The movie follows a very curious Hiccup (Mason Thames) and his ambitious friend Astrid (Parker) as they learn to live alongside dragons instead of hunting them. How To Train Your Dragon has opened to strong reviews, with many critics praising its visual style and loyalty to the source material. However, there has also been some unfair backlash directed towards Parker for being cast as Astrid due to her lack of resemblance to the original animated character.

While speaking to The Times, Parker recently responded to the ongoing backlash about her casting. While she hopes that viewers who value accuracy will love her rendition of the character, she also expressed that she doesn’t care about the opinions of those who dislike inclusivity. Read her comment below:

“There’s some people that really love the animated movies and really want to see an exact play-by-play of that film, and I hope that you can watch [the new version] and find something that you love about it, regardless. But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change – when it comes to that side of things, I just don’t care. 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.”

What Parker’s Comments Mean For How To Train Your Dragon

The Director Has Also Defended Her Casting Amid T

Parker’s comment about the casting backlash appears to be the first time that she has spoken about it since joining the live-action remake. Following her casting confirmation in May 2023, there was already intense backlash concerning her casting as she didn’t have the key features of Astrid’s blonde hair and blue eyes. The star further mentioned how strongly she feels about the importance of “mixed race or black icons” in cinema, explaining that while there’s “still a long way to go.” She hopes that her role in How to Train Your Dragon will help open the door for broader opportunities and less volatile discussions about fictional characters’ skin colors.

The remake’s director, Dean DeBlois, who also helmed the original trilogy, has also defended the cast choice. He argued that the movies are fantasies and are not intended to be historically accurate. He also elaborated that he picked the cast that best embodied the spirit of their characters, which ultimately led to Parker’s casting. He noted her confidence was a reason for her casting and even shared that the remake would highlight more of Astrid, explaining that he felt her arc was thin in the original trilogy.

Our Take On Nico Parker’s Comments

Parker Is Receiving A Lot Of Praise For Her Astrid Portrayal

Ultimately, Astrid looking somewhat different in the new How To Train Your Dragon movie shouldn’t even be a point of discussion, and Parker’s comments do a great job of explaining why. Though it’s important that How To Train Your Dragon stays accurate and doesn’t divert too strongly from the original film’s story, the characters’ appearances ultimately have nothing to do with this. This shouldn’t even be something that audiences notice when watching How To Train Your Dragon, so it’s refreshing to hear that Parker hasn’t let the backlash get to her head.

Thankfully, the negative reaction to her casting has been almost entirely overshadowed by the critical praise that she has received. She’s done an excellent job of bringing Astrid to life, cementing her among the highlights of How To Train Your Dragon’s cast. This may not have been the case if the studio had prioritized visual accuracy over talent and inclusivity.

Source: The Times