Director Dean DeBlois is defending Nico Parker‘s casting as Astrid in the upcoming live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, stating that they have created a fantasy movie, not one based on “historical fact.

Directed, written, and co-produced by Dean DeBlois, who was also part of the original animated movie, the How to Train Your Dragon live-action film has been in the works since early 2023 and will finally see the light of day in 2025 after being filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in early 2024.

How to Train Your Dragon' director Dean DeBlois says Astrid's appearance doesn't matter because the film is a fantasy, not historical fact."

Filmmaker Dean DeBlois shows a behind the scene look at how the live-action world of How To Train Your Dragon was brought to life.

But when he catches a dragon named Toothless, he’s unable to finish the job. As Hiccup raises the knife, he catches a glimpse of Toothless’ green eyes and frees the beast. We’re unsure what these add to How To Train Your Dragon ‘s overall mythos.

Following the cast announcement for 2025s How to Train Your Dragon, some audiences have criticized the casting of Nico Parker as Astrid: heres why.