Does the live-action How to Train Your Dragon finally give Astrid the story she deserves?

How to Train Your Dragon is one of the many live-action adaptations that we saw in 2025. The film, written and directed by Dean DeBlois, is a remake of the eponymous 2010 animated film, which itself was derived from Cressida Cowell's 2003 children's book. Here is the official synopsis:

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

Astrid gets a deserving story in How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon features a character named Astrid Hofferson (played by Nico Parker), who is one of the students in the training of dragon fighting. She also develops feelings for Hiccup. The character was loved in the animated films, and the remake expands further on her.

In the original, she is a likable character who is brave and soft. But her appearance is limited and only revolves around Hiccup. In the remake, she becomes more than a love interest, and we are told why she wants to be the chief. The character is given more depth and a proper arc to explain her motivation. We also see her conflicts with the secrets of the dragons that clash with the old beliefs of Berk.

The viewers are also shown why she disliked Hiccup initially. It was mainly due to his privileges that he was ignorant of. Through her life journey, we get to see how much traditions can affect people and how important it is to be brave in times of crisis.

Earlier, the casting of Nico Parker in How to Train Your Dragon received some flak on the internet. This was because she does not have blue hair and blue eyes like the original character in the animated film. Speaking to The Times of London, the actress addressed the backlash and said:

"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. 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.”

How to Train Your Dragon will release on June 13, 2025.