The controversy surrounding the casting of Nico Parker as Hiccup's Viking love interest, Astrid Hofferson, has been pretty storied as of late with both sides arguing the same triad and true arguements that basically don't do anything but spur each other on. How to Train Your Dragon director, Dean DeBlois, has stepped forward to address the controversy.
Taking to Instagram, DeBlois championed a comment telling people to chill out with the hatred thrown around at Parker for her casting, stating that they had auditioned many actors, including those who looked more like the characters, but decided to go give the role to someone who filled the spirit of the character better. Additionally, he hammered in that the film is fantasy rather than fact.
“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). Still, we’re crafting a fantasy, not historical fact... Instead of a completely new tale, we aimed to embellish and deepen, without abandoning the story that fans love.”
It's not a hard thing to consider -- while everyone has opinions surrounding the casting, it's still in the end a fictional movie that no one has the obligation of watching, if one is so against Astrid's casting, you could always just not watch it and remain watching the original animated hits. But, for those who are open to the idea, How to Train Your Dragon's live action adaptation stars The Black Phone's Mason Thames as the scrawny Viking-turned-dragon-tamer, Hiccup.
Beyond the starring role and support main, Astrid, Gerard Butler reprises his role in the live action film as Chief Stoick the Vast, Shaun of the Dead's Nick Frost gives his take on the village blacksmith, Gobber. Oh, it will also feature Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Murray McArthur.
Behind-the-scenes, DeBlois takes up the duties of writing, producing, and directing the film alongside award-winning producers Marc Platt and Adam Siegel. How to Train Your Dragon is heading to theaters on June 13, 2025.
Official synopsis:
"On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccupstands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society."