The casting for the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has sparked controversy once again, with some vocal critics taking issue with the casting of Astrid. These complaints have been met with backlash, particularly as critics seem to ignore key facts about the character’s history.
The Anticipation for the Live-Action Adaptation
How to Train Your Dragon is a beloved animated film, and the live-action adaptation has been highly anticipated by fans. Now that the cast has been revealed, we’ve learned that some major characters will be played by fresh faces.
- Stoic: Gerard Butler will reprise the role of Stoic, which he voiced in the first two films.
- Hiccup: Mason Thames, known for The Black Phone, will take on the role of Hiccup, originally voiced by Jay Baruchel.
- Astrid: Nico Parker, who starred in Dumbo and The Last of Us, will play the fierce Viking warrior, Astrid.
The Controversy Over Astrid’s Casting
While most fans are excited about the new casting choices, some have voiced outrage, particularly over the casting of Nico Parker as Astrid. The backlash stems from Parker’s mixed-race heritage, with some individuals claiming that her casting is inappropriate due to her ethnicity. Parker’s father is English, and her mother, actress Thandiwe Newton, is of Zimbabwean descent, making Parker one-quarter Zimbabwean.
Some critics, like content creator Mally Mouse, took to social media to express their anger. Mouse posted a rant, claiming that Parker should not be cast as Astrid because of her race. Her argument centred on the idea that the character of Astrid should be blonde and blue-eyed, citing the design of the animated version. However, as many pointed out, the character is fictional, and dragons exist in the How to Train Your Dragon universe.
A Forgotten Detail: The Original Astrid
What’s ironic about this backlash is that many of the same critics have conveniently forgotten who voiced the character of Astrid in the original films. America Ferrera, a proud Latina actress, voiced Astrid in the How to Train Your Dragon films. This fact hasn’t escaped the attention of the internet, and people have been quick to remind the critics of this point.
One user replied to Mouse’s post, saying, “An insanely weird take especially considering the original Astrid was voiced by America Ferrera … an actress whose entire personality is being Hispanic lol.”
Another user highlighted the absurdity of discussing “accuracy” in a film that features dragons, writing, “What are we doing? She’s worrying about the historical accuracy of a character in a movie about DRAGONS.”
The Bigger Issue: Racism in Film Casting
The outrage over the casting of a mixed-race actress in a fantasy film has left many fans frustrated. One user commented, “Genuinely upsetting how passionately racist this one was.” Many others have pointed out that the ongoing anger over POC actors being cast in fantasy films adapted from animation is tiresome and misplaced.
As the backlash grows, the message is clear: it’s time to move on and accept diverse casting in films. Your childhood nostalgia isn’t under threat, and it’s high time critics let go of their unjustified rage.
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