British actress Nico Parker is making it clear that she isn’t letting criticism shake her confidence after being cast as Astrid in the upcoming live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. Known for her roles in The Last of Us and Dumbo, Parker is now stepping into the high-flying fantasy franchise as the fierce dragon hunter-turned-dragon rider — and she’s addressing the online backlash head-on.
Fans of the original animated film expressed disappointment over the casting choice, pointing to the fact that the animated Astrid is portrayed with blonde hair and blue eyes, while Parker has brown hair and brown eyes. Despite the negative commentary, Parker remains unbothered by those focused on physical differences rather than performance and storytelling.
In an interview with The Times of London, the 20-year-old actress responded gracefully, saying, “There are people who love the original animated films and want a play-by-play remake, and I hope they can still find something they love in this version.”
She also spoke candidly about the deeper resistance to change that often surfaces in online discourse: “For the people that just hate inclusivity and hate change, I just don’t care.”
Parker emphasized that she won’t let social media negativity dictate how she feels about her work. “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,” she said.
As the daughter of director Ol Parker and acclaimed actress Thandiwe Newton, Parker also reflected on the importance of representation in the entertainment industry. She noted that growing up, she rarely saw mixed-race or Black leads in mainstream films. “It was really minimal,” she said. “So it feels really special to see how much more inclusive the industry is becoming.”
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon, directed by Dean DeBlois — who helmed the original trilogy — is set to hit theaters on June 13. As the film reimagines a beloved animated classic for a new generation, Parker hopes audiences will focus less on appearances and more on the heart of the story.
With her poised response and unwavering confidence, Nico Parker is proving she’s more than ready to take flight in this iconic role.
