Summary

Nico Parker praises the team behind the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake and expresses her admiration for the original movies and director Dean DeBlois. Parker believes that the key to a successful live-action adaptation is when everyone involved cares deeply about the project, even if it’s not well-received by critics or audiences. The advantage of having Dean DeBlois, the writer and director of the original Dragon movies, return to helm the live-action adaptation is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of original creatives in adaptations.

As filming finally takes off on the project, Nico Parker opens up about working on the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake. The Last of Us alum is set to star in the new adaptation of Cressida Cowell’s children’s novels as Astrid, a dragon fighter-in-training alongside central protagonist Hiccup, and eventually becomes his love interest. Alongside Parker, the ensemble How To Train Your Dragon cast includes Mason Thames as Hiccup, Gerard Butler reprising his role as Hiccup’s dad, and Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant for her coming-of-age drama Suncoast, Parker was asked about being a part of the live-action How To Train Your Dragon. Though lamenting she wished she could give more details about the project, she did ultimately praise the team behind it, feeling that the key to a live-action remake of a classic is “when everyone just cares so deeply about what they’re doing”. Check out what Parker shared below:

I so can’t say anything. I so wish I could. But I love and have loved and will continue to love those movies. I think they are genius. I think Dean [DeBloise], who directed them and is directing this one, is just an absolute genius. He’s so kind and talented and funny. And what to expect? Everyone is so brilliant. Everyone is so on top of their game, and I’m just so proud and slightly petrified to be working alongside such talented people, from cast to crew to everyone. Yeah, it’s magical getting to work there. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I’m enjoying making it so far.
I think when [live-action adaptations] are at their real height is when everyone just cares so deeply about what they’re doing. I really think it translates on screen, and I think that even if it isn’t as successful in terms of numbers or views or reviews or anything, I think it’s just knowing that loads of people came together and all care so deeply for something. They love it so much, and even if it’s not the best in terms of how it’s perceived, just knowing that I think is such a lovely thing. Live-actions get a lot of flack, but I think it’s really sweet-natured. I think it’s brilliant, and I hope everyone loves this one.

How To Train Your Dragon Has 1 Key Advantage For Success

Interestingly, the How to Train Your Dragon remake marks the third major adaptation of a beloved prior property Parker has starred in. The young star made her acting debut in Tim Burton’s poorly received Dumbo remake, in which Parker’s performance was singled out for praise by critics even amidst negative reviews. She most recently appeared in HBO’s acclaimed adaptation of The Last of Us, starring as Joel’s ill-fated daughter Sarah.

While Parker is one of a large roster of talented performers on the upcoming movie, one of the biggest advantages the How to Train Your Dragon remake has is writer/director Dean DeBlois’ return. It’s very rare for an animated creative to be at the helm of the live-action adaptation of their source material, but with DeBlois having been a writer and director on all three of the original Dragon movies — which all scored an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature — it’s clear he’s an important figure to have in such a high position.

Parker’s past with The Last of Us is actually good proof of the importance of original creatives returning for new adaptations. The game’s co-creator and director Neil Druckmann served as co-showrunner and even the director of an episode of the HBO show. Though one could argue that their return could lead to a predictable retreading of the source material’s story, with the How to Train Your Dragon animated movies already taking a loose approach to adapting their books, there’s plenty of material left for DeBlois to cover in acclaimed fashion.

How to Train Your Dragon (2025) How to Train Your Dragon is a live-action adaptation of the 2010 film of the same name. Co-director of the first film, Dead DeBlois, is returning to direct the live-action treatment, with Nico Parker starring as Astrid and Mason Thames as Hiccup. Release Date June 13, 2025 Director Dean DeBlois Cast Mason Thames , Nico Parker Writers Dean DeBlois Studio(s) DreamWorks Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures