Nico Parker Responds to Backlash Over How to Train Your Dragon Casting

Nepo baby Nico Parker has hit back at critics objecting to her taking on the lead role in How To Train Your Dragon.

Parker, 20, who is the daughter of Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton, 52, and writer/director Ol Parker, 56 – plays Astrid, who was depicted as a young blonde Viking in the 2010 animated version of the film as well as its sequels.

After some fans took umbrage with Parker – who is of Zimbabwean descent through her mother – not having Astrid’s ’s original blonde hair and blue eyes, she slammed trolls ‘hating inclusivity’ and having an ‘opinion on her hair’.

‘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 said in an interview with The London Times.  

‘But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don’t care,’ she asserted.

‘If I wouldn’t value your opinion on most things in life,’ and getting to the root of some of the backlash she’s received added, ‘I can’t value your opinion on my hair. If I did, I would go mad.’

The female lead in the new How to Train Your Dragon is pushing back against critics unhappy about her being cast in the live-action film

Parker, who was brought up in London, said seeing other people of color on screen was useful. 

‘When I was younger, the amount of mixed race or black icons, people that I would look to on screen to be like, “Oh, this feels like me,” felt really minimal in comparison to what it could be for young people now, and I think that’s really special,’ she told the outlet.

‘There’s still a long way to go — for women in general, in terms of new parts, original material and female-led stories. But I think that everything’s changing. I’d like to think that I could contribute to that change at some point.’

In the 2010 animated How to Train Your Dragon and the 2014 and 2019 sequels Astrid was voiced by Latina actress America Ferrera. 

 Parker’s first role was in Disney’s live-action Dumbo, which she said she auditioned for on a whim.

‘By the time we got on set [in 2017], I remember being, like, “This is what I want to do all the time.:’ she said of her 12-year-old self. 

Since then she has gone on to star in Reminiscence and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

One role, a two episode run in The Last of US, was a special experience for her, and she had high praise for star Pedro Pascal.

‘He is one of the best people ever. He really is as special as you think he would be. I was 16 when I filmed The Last of US and it was a bit of a weird time of life in general, and I feel like I came into the job on a bit of an odd footing. I don’t have enough words to describe how grateful I am that he was there.’

Nico Parker, 20, stars as Astrid in the reimaging of the beloved story. Her casting has caused some backlash among fans 

In the 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon, Astrid, was depicted as a young blonde Viking. ‘Some people… really want to see an exact play-by-play of that film,’ Parker, who is mixed-race, said of the backlash

Parker is the daughter of Emmy winner Thandiwe Newton , 52, and writer/director Ol Parker, 56; Pictured in London  in March 2019, with sister Ripley, now 23  

How to Train Your Dragon, starring Mason Thames, 17, as Hiccup, opens on Friday and is expected to bring in somewhere between $80 million and $100 million over the weekend;  Pictured in Los Angeles on Saturday

Parker will be reprising the role of Astrid. A live-action sequel has already been announced 

How to Train Your Dragon is expected to fly to the top of the box office after it’s released on Friday.  The action-adventure stars Mason Thames, 17, as Hiccup, with Gerard Butler reprising his role as his blusterous dad Stoick.

‘I remember seeing how many views the trailer got and I was, like, “What is happening?” To me, I think for everyone who grew up with the films, it feels very personal,’ she said.  

Based on the performance of the three previous films, the reimagined version is expected to pull in somewhere between $80 million and $100 million domestically according to Box Office Pro. 

Universal Pictures has already announced a sequel to the anticipated blockbuster. ‘They announced a release date and I was like, “Well, that’s quite soon,”‘ Parker said.