As a movie enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of diversity in Hollywood over several decades, I find it refreshing to see directors like Dean DeBois making bold and inclusive casting decisions for iconic characters such as Astrid in the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon.
Dean DeBois, the director of How to Train Your Dragon, has addressed the recent uproar concerning Nico Parker’s casting as Astrid in the live-action remake. Nico Parker, who is the daughter of filmmaker Ol Parker and actress Thandiwe Newton (known for her role in Westworld), has gained recognition in her own right, having starred in the live-action version of Dumbo and as Sarah Miller on the popular HBO series The Last of Us. The choice to cast Nico Parker as Astrid in How to Train Your Dragon has sparked a typical response associated with casting a non-white actor for a role that was originally white, including an unfortunate wave of racist remarks.
Currently, director Dean DeBlois has shared his thoughts on the casting choice for the character Astrid in “How to Train Your Dragon”. On Instagram, DeBlois posted about the decision to cast Parker as Astrid, stating that Parker embodies the essence of Astrid from the initial films. Moreover, he mentions that the movie’s depiction of Berk will include various cultures the Vikings have encountered during their travels. It is essential to note that the film primarily focuses on fantasy rather than historical accuracy. Here is DeBlois’ full statement: [Link to the statement]
During our casting process, we considered numerous actors who closely resembled their animated counterparts. However, we selected the performers whose talent best captured the essence and characteristics of the characters. This is because our tribe in this adaptation represents descendants of the most skilled dragon fighters from every place the Vikings had ever explored (which historically spanned vast territories, encompassing various cultures).
It is worth remembering that the original Astrid, while depicted as white in the film, was voiced by America Ferrera. Dean DeBois was also one of the original co-directors and writers on the original How to Train Your Dragon, so he was the one who originally crafted the character for the big screen. If one of the original creative voices behind How to Train Your Dragon isn’t allowed to make changes, then is anyone allowed to make any changes for remakes? Or does it all need to be carbon copies?
The Complaints About Astrid’s Casting are Not Worth Listening To
The so-called “controversy” around the decision to cast a non-white actor as Astrid is sadly nothing new. The criticisms of casting non-white actors like Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid and Rachel Zegler as Snow White tend to be under the guise of changing characters who, historically, have been depicted as white, typically as a way to distract from the often racist criticisms that are being made. The critique is usually done in bad faith, because even when franchises feature newly created characters played by non-white actors, like in Star Wars or the MCU, there are still similar complaints. It is an attempt at normalizing racism and harassment. It has become so bad that studios are now taking control of stars’ social media to protect them from hostile harassment.
In 2011, the film “Thor” faced criticism from certain groups over the casting of Idris Elba as Heimdall, but this didn’t stop the movie from earning $181 million domestically and $449 million worldwide, and kick-starting a successful film franchise. Fast forward to 2025, “How to Train Your Dragon” might face similar backlash on social media due to its casting choices, but with the widespread reach of online platforms today, such opinions can quickly garner attention, making it challenging for productions to ignore these views, even if they are extreme.
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2024-11-23 17:31