Since the first trailer for the live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" dropped, it has largely been met with praise from fans, celebrating the faithful design of Hiccup, the stunning CGI for Toothless, and the return of Gerard Butler, who reprises his role as Hiccup's father, Stoick the Vast. However, the film's casting has also sparked considerable debate.
In fact, ever since Universal Pictures announced the cast for the live-action adaptation, some audience members have expressed dissatisfaction with Nico Parker being cast as Astrid. The criticism primarily centers on her appearance differing from the character's depiction as a blonde, fair-skinned Viking in the animated films, with the actress's biracial background becoming a flashpoint for online controversy.
Dean DeBlois, who is helming the new film after directing the entire animated "How to Train Your Dragon" trilogy, recently addressed the criticism on Instagram. He explained that the priority in casting was finding an actor who could capture the character's personality and inner qualities, stating that a physical resemblance to the animated counterpart was not the primary factor.
"We held extensive auditions for these roles, which included actors who bore a closer physical resemblance to the animated characters," DeBlois said. "The tribe in the film is indeed made up of the descendants of formidable Viking dragon-slayers, but the story we’ve created has always been a fantasy, not a historical account."
"Our aim is not to completely change the source material and tell a brand-new story with the live-action film," he continued. "Instead, we hope to enrich the content and expand the entire world while preserving the core foundation that fans love."
The live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" is once again directed by Dean DeBlois, who also penned the screenplay. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on June 13, 2025.
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