Nico Parker On ‘How To Train Your Dragon' Backlash Over Her Casting: 'I Just Don't Care'
In a new interview, Parker addresses the negativity surrounding her appearance in the live-action remake of the DreamWorks animated film.
More from Deadline
'How To Train Your Dragon' Won't Be Laggin' At Summer Box Office With $175M-$185M Global Start For Live-Action Redo - Preview
'How To Train Your Dragon' Review: Live-Action Take Subtly Stretches The Original's Wingspan - Annecy Film Festival
Tribeca Festival Unveils 2025 Film Lineup With Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Bryan Cranston & 'How To Train Your Dragon'
'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,' she told The Times of London.
She continued, 'But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don't care. 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.'
The controversy surrounding Parker's casting in the role of Astrid is that the actress does not have blonde hair and blue eyes like in the animated version.
'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 added.
Parker is the daughter of filmmaker Ol Parker and actress Thandiwe Newton. The How to Train Your Dragon Star thinks her casting is a win for representation in Hollywood, as she felt that growing up, the industry lacked 'mixed race or Black icons.'
'There's still a long way to go — for women in general, in terms of new parts, original material and female-led stories,' Parker said. 'But I think that everything's changing. I'd like to think that I could contribute to that change at some point.'
How to Train Your Dragon is directed and written by Dean DeBlois and set to open in theaters on June 13. The live-action adaptation also stars Mason Thames as Hiccup, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, and Peter Serafinowicz.
Best of Deadline
List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds
A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Casting News: Will Trent Ups Kevin Daniels to Regular, Strangers With Candy Reunion and More
Will Trent fans will be seeing a lot more of Franklin Wilks when the show returns in January. Kevin Daniels, who has recurred as the APD detective — and Angie's sponsor — since Season 1, has been elevated to series-regular status ahead of Season 4, Deadline reports. He joins returning regulars Ramón Rodríguez (Will Trent), Erika Christensen (Angie Polaski), Iantha Richardson (Faith Mitchell), Jake McLaughlin (Michael Ormewood) and Sonja Sohn (Amanda Wagner). More from TVLine Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Trailer Reveals Roles for 8 New Guest Stars - Get Premiere Date Mark Ruffalo's Task, From Mare of Easttown EP, Gets September Premiere Date on HBO - Watch Trailer Casting News: Buffy Reboot Adds The Studio Standout, Paul Reiser's Fox Sitcom and More As TVLine previously reported, Gina Rodriguez, who joined the ABC drama as a series regular ahead of Season 3, will not return for Season 4. In other casting news… * Elsbeth's Season 3 premiere (airing Sunday, Oct. 12) is staging a Strangers With Candy reunion: Per Deadline, Amy Sedaris will guest-star as the head writer of fictional late-night talk show Way Late With Scotty Bristol, whose namesake, as previously reported, will be played by Stephen Colbert. Additionally, Andy Richter will play Bristol's sidekick, while Lindsay Mendez (American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez) will play a police officer/aspiring stand-up comedian. * Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) will write and star in the single-camera comedy Do You Want Kids?, which has received a pilot order at ABC, per Deadline. Hit the comments with your thoughts on the casting above! Will Trent Season 4: What to Expect View List Best of TVLine Stars Who Almost Played Other TV Roles — on Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Friends and Other Shows TV Stars Almost Cast in Other Roles Fall TV Preview: Who's In? Who's Out? Your Guide to Every Casting Move! Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Freakier Friday' Scores Surprise Hit at Box Office After Poor Reviews
'Freakier Friday' Scores Surprise Hit at Box Office After Poor Reviews originally appeared on Parade. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis's Freakier Friday scored a huge milestone in less than a week after its official release. The Disney movie went against predictions after raking in impressive box office numbers during its opening week. Kicking off on August 8, the highly anticipated sequel was forecasted to gross a global total of $45 million on its opening weekend, according to Deadline. According to the outlet, the movie earned $16 million from international markets, making Freakier Friday one of 41 movies this year that have grossed over $45 million worldwide. Additionally, this means that the $45 million production had just three days in theaters to recoup its budget. The news regarding the sequel's global success comes after it received negative reviews from the public. It was after Time Magazine criticized Freakier Friday for its poor costumes and awkward scenes. 'Ugly costumes, humiliating scenarios, and zero added value—this is a sequel with the sole purpose of cashing in on the fondness people have for the original movie and nothing more. The worst part is, 'Freakier Friday' arrived in a pack of other sequels with genuinely fresh takes on their original source material,' as posted on the publication's Instagram. With this, lead star Jamie Lee Curtis defended the film and called the review 'a tad harsh,' as mentioned by Hollywood Reporter. The newly released film follows the reunion of Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan) years after their unforgettable magical body swap. However, history repeats itself when another unexpected switch occurs, this time involving multiple family members, including Anna's teenage daughter.'Freakier Friday' Scores Surprise Hit at Box Office After Poor Reviews first appeared on Parade on Aug 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
Netflix drops first trailer for Cillian Murphy's new drama movie — and it already has me counting down the days
Netflix has released the first trailer for 'Steve,' an upcoming drama starring Cillian Murphy in what appears to be a compelling role. Set in the mid-1990s, the movie is a reimagining of Max Porter's acclaimed novella 'Shy.' Murphy portrays the titular character Steve, a devoted headteacher at a reform school for boys, grappling with a day that tests his patience, his principles, and his ability to keep his troubled students on track. The narrative intertwines Steve's efforts to maintain the school's integrity amidst impending closure with the struggles of Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a troubled teen battling internal conflict and violent impulses. Following its festival debut, 'Steve' will be released in select theaters on September 19 and will stream globally on Netflix starting October 3. The trailer begins with Steve being prompted to sum himself up in just three words. He chuckles before admitting, 'Very, very tired.' From there, we see him trying to connect with the challenging students in his care, even as he leans on substances to get through the pressure. As the trailer progresses, Steve's world grows increasingly chaotic. The students' turmoil intensifies around him, and he finds himself sinking deeper, desperately clinging to whatever coping strategies he can muster. From this footage alone, I can tell that 'Steve' is likely to be an emotional watch, with something real to say. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Along with the trailer, we also have an official synopsis: 'Set in the mid-90s, Steve is a reimagining of Max Porter's Sunday Times bestseller Shy. The film follows a pivotal day in the life of headteacher Steve and his students at a last-chance reform school amidst a world that has forsaken them. 'As Steve fights to protect the school's integrity and impending closure, we witness him grappling with his own mental health. In parallel to Steve's struggles, we meet Shy, a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence.' Directed by Tim Mielants, known for his work on 'Peaky Blinders,' and adapted by Porter himself, 'Steve' looks at what it means to be alone, to keep going, and to try to support others along the way. Murphy told Deadline: 'I gotta say, it was one of the most kind of exposing and terrifying characters I've ever played, because it was written bespoke for me by Max [porter], but also had, I think, quite a lot of him in there… There's elements that I feel like, you know, there was no accent.' He added: 'Both my parents are teachers, so I grew up in a household where I saw the after effects of standing in front of 35 teenagers all day long while my mother was trying to raise four of her own, and they were both out at work. My grandfather is a headmaster. All my aunts and uncles are teachers. So I know the inside-out of that world.' With a standout cast including Tracey Ullman, Emily Watson, and Simbi Ajikawo, 'Steve' from Murphy's Big Things Films is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2025. Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow's score is designed to deepen the drama's emotional impact, layering ambient textures with hints of 1990s-inspired tones. Another reason why I'm excited to see this Netflix original. Most of all, the trailer hints at a movie that may fuse high-stakes intensity with deeply human moments, exploring the complicated realities of life at a reform school. With Murphy at the helm alongside a talented cast, 'Steve' looks set to offer a mix of tension and heart, hinting that it could become one of the year's more compelling streaming originals. I've already added it to my must-watch list. 'Steve' releases in select theaters on September 19 and will stream on Netflix starting October 3. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
