Fri Jun 13 03:40:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Nico Parker Responds to Social Media Backlash Over ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Casting**

Los Angeles, CA – As Universal Pictures prepares to release the live-action remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” this Friday, actress Nico Parker, who plays Astrid, is addressing the online criticism surrounding her casting. Some fans have taken issue with Parker’s casting due to her not having the blonde hair and blue eyes of the animated character.

In a recent interview with The Times, Parker addressed the controversy directly. “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,” Parker stated. She dismissed the negative comments, particularly those rooted in resistance to inclusivity, saying, “For the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don’t care.”

The 20-year-old actress, daughter of Thandiwe Newton and Ol Parker, also emphasized the importance of representation in Hollywood, acknowledging the progress made since her youth, yet recognizes the importance of original female-led stories.

Director Dean DeBlois previously mentioned that Astrid would have a more fleshed-out role in the remake. “Nico Parker plays Astrid, [and] that feeds into this idea that she has come from a different culture,” he explained.

Alongside Parker, the film stars Mason Thames as Hiccup. The live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” arrives in theaters this Friday.

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