June 23, 2025 • 7 mins
How to Train Your Dragon just soared to #1 at the box office for two weeks in a row. We're celebrating with rising star Nico Parker, who plays Astrid in the live-action remake. KFI's own entertainment dragon slayer Heather Brooker chats with Nico about stepping into a beloved role, working with CGI dragons, and the advice she got from her mom, Thandiwe Newton. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes look at one of summer’s biggest films!
Don't forget to subscribe to Entertain Me, leave a review, and share it with friends! And follow Heather on IG at @theheatherbrooker and TikTok @heatherbrooker.
Don't forget to subscribe to Entertain Me, leave a review, and share it with friends! And follow Heather on IG at @theheatherbrooker and TikTok @heatherbrooker.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to entertain Me. I'm your host, Heather Brooker.
Today we are taking flight with one of the biggest
movies of the summer, the live action How to Train
Your Dragon. My daughter and I absolutely loved this movie.
We had such a blast seeing these characters come to
life on the big screen. And you know, this film
just spent two weeks at number one at the box office.
(00:22):
It soared into the top spot for a second week
in a row with thirty seven million dollars and it's
earned three hundred and fifty four million dollars worldwide so
far at the box office. Now, if you remember, the
first film was animated and it came out in two
thousand and five. It was a big hit at the time,
and now director Dean de Bloy has spent the last
(00:43):
few years bringing a live action version to the big screen.
This film brings the beloved DreamWorks animated saga to life
with some beautiful visuals. It has a wonderful story and
a cast of rising stars. And speaking of those joining
me today is the incredible Nico Parker who plays Astrod,
(01:05):
a fierce and loyal dragon fighter turned friend. Hi Nico,
congratulations on having the number one movie at the box office.
So let's go back in time just a little bit.
Tell me what was your reaction when they first told
you you'd be playing Astrod in this beloved movie.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
While they filmed our reactions and they released them to
the internet without any of our knowledge. So that was
really fun to wake up to. I was kind of
I remember doing the zoom where they told me that
I got the part, and I remember kind of I
honestly blacked out while we were speaking because I was
so like, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I just honestly was like emotionless.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
And then I got off the zoom, sat in silence
for about a minute, went downstairs, and burst into tears
to my parents because I was so excited. So it
truly I've loved these movies so much growing up. I
love them now, and to have got to be in
this universism is a real privilege that I don't take lightly.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So it was, yeah, it was very very cool.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
That is so sweet. Let's talk about your role as
Asterid in this live action adaptation. How did you approach
bringing an animated character to life while also making this
role your own?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It was always that was definitely an element of it
that felt somewhat daunting because you don't want to do
or I at least I didn't want to do a
play by play impersonation of what America Farra did because
she's so talented and so wonderful, and I felt like
me trying to emulate exactly what she was doing just
wouldn't read well because I'm not her and I won't
(02:37):
be able to do exactly like her. But having Dean
there was truly so so special because he allowed for
change and differences, and also if you're ever questioning yourself,
he knows these characters more than anyone. So to be
able to have a director that you have such trust
and you know, not even blind, just absolute faith in was.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Really really special.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So I credit basically everything in my life at this
point to Dean.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Now, you mentioned your mom, Tandy Newton, who is of
course an icon in her own right, and I would
love to know if she gave you any advice, any
tips before you started taking on this role, and you
also have managed to carve out your own path here,
and I would love to know what she has given
you that's sort of helping you navigate the industry.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
I think both of my parents. I think the really
wonderful thing about them is that the way that they
give advice is very much more so. I think that
their kind of main thing that they would want for
me and my siblings is that we're nice people. Is
definitely feels like the predominant thing that they would be after,
so the advice that they give feels very much more
(03:46):
so tailored to how to you know, exist in the
world and be kind rather than you know, about anything
set related. But I think the wonderful thing about it
is that their life advice also wonderfully bleeds into work,
because you know, the two, there's a through line through
it all. And I feel like the main pieces of
(04:06):
advice that if anything I've taken from them about work
and the industry and everything is just like be is
just a way to be a human, I think is
applicable just to also everyone, like no people's names, like
just being most important than anyone else, Like it feels
very you know, that stuff feels very very important to
(04:27):
them and as a result, was very important to me.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
It seems so simple, and yet so many people do
not do that.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
It's really good.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It's really good advice.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
As soon as the camera is off. But there you go.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, let's talk a little bit about working with the
CGI elements of this film. You know, there's some deeply
emotional parts, especially the connection between Toothless and Hiccup, And
what was it like building up that excitement and that
emotional level with you know, CGI.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It was definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It wasn't as truly, it wasn't as strange as they
think it could have been, because there was a really
really brilliant puppeteering team who made every dragon foam Head
come to life in a way that I can't fully describe.
It was really really wonderful, and they're all so talented
and so to get to work with them was like
an absolute pleasure. But I mean, you know, in terms
(05:27):
of forging those connection, its truly hats off to Mason,
whose predominant scene partner for this movie is a foam head,
and I think that the way that he was able
to translate that kind of love that the two have
for each other from the animated one and to make
that feel just as real and touching in this movie
as something that I kind of a constantly looking at
(05:48):
him starry eyed for it was very very cool.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Any final thoughts on how you feel about the movie
being number one and we're going to the second weekend
it could be number one again. How are you feeling
about that?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Oh good, I'm very just kind of it all feels
very crazy and the bit of a whirlwind. But I'm
just trying to, you know, trying to just do normal
things in the midst of all of it, which my
friends are very good at. My friends and my family
very good at keeping me, like, still in normalcy despite
the madness going.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
On, keeping you grounded.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Huh, yeah, they're trying.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
I love that. Well, don't forget to celebrate a little
bit too, have so much fun. Thank you. I really
appreciate you taking the time to.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Talk with me so much. I was love you to
speak to you.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
She is so lovely and it was truly a delight
to talk with her. That was Nico Parker, who plays
Astroid in How to Train Your Dragon, which is in
theaters right now. Thanks so much for listening to entertain me.
Make sure you subscribe to the show, like it, leave
a review, share it with your friends, whatever you want
to do. We appreciate every single listen and I appreciate
(06:54):
every single one of you. Thanks for listening again, and
you can listen anywhere, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
Welcome back to entertain Me. I'm your host, Heather Brooker.
Today we are taking flight with one of the biggest
movies of the summer, the live action How to Train
Your Dragon. My daughter and I absolutely loved this movie.
We had such a blast seeing these characters come to
life on the big screen. And you know, this film
just spent two weeks at number one at the box office.
(00:22):
It soared into the top spot for a second week
in a row with thirty seven million dollars and it's
earned three hundred and fifty four million dollars worldwide so
far at the box office. Now, if you remember, the
first film was animated and it came out in two
thousand and five. It was a big hit at the time,
and now director Dean de Bloy has spent the last
(00:43):
few years bringing a live action version to the big screen.
This film brings the beloved DreamWorks animated saga to life
with some beautiful visuals. It has a wonderful story and
a cast of rising stars. And speaking of those joining
me today is the incredible Nico Parker who plays Astrod,
(01:05):
a fierce and loyal dragon fighter turned friend. Hi Nico,
congratulations on having the number one movie at the box office.
So let's go back in time just a little bit.
Tell me what was your reaction when they first told
you you'd be playing Astrod in this beloved movie.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
While they filmed our reactions and they released them to
the internet without any of our knowledge. So that was
really fun to wake up to. I was kind of
I remember doing the zoom where they told me that
I got the part, and I remember kind of I
honestly blacked out while we were speaking because I was
so like, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
I just honestly was like emotionless.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
And then I got off the zoom, sat in silence
for about a minute, went downstairs, and burst into tears
to my parents because I was so excited. So it
truly I've loved these movies so much growing up. I
love them now, and to have got to be in
this universism is a real privilege that I don't take lightly.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So it was, yeah, it was very very cool.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
That is so sweet. Let's talk about your role as
Asterid in this live action adaptation. How did you approach
bringing an animated character to life while also making this
role your own?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
It was always that was definitely an element of it
that felt somewhat daunting because you don't want to do
or I at least I didn't want to do a
play by play impersonation of what America Farra did because
she's so talented and so wonderful, and I felt like
me trying to emulate exactly what she was doing just
wouldn't read well because I'm not her and I won't
(02:37):
be able to do exactly like her. But having Dean
there was truly so so special because he allowed for
change and differences, and also if you're ever questioning yourself,
he knows these characters more than anyone. So to be
able to have a director that you have such trust
and you know, not even blind, just absolute faith in was.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Really really special.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
So I credit basically everything in my life at this
point to Dean.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Now, you mentioned your mom, Tandy Newton, who is of
course an icon in her own right, and I would
love to know if she gave you any advice, any
tips before you started taking on this role, and you
also have managed to carve out your own path here,
and I would love to know what she has given
you that's sort of helping you navigate the industry.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
I think both of my parents. I think the really
wonderful thing about them is that the way that they
give advice is very much more so. I think that
their kind of main thing that they would want for
me and my siblings is that we're nice people. Is
definitely feels like the predominant thing that they would be after,
so the advice that they give feels very much more
(03:46):
so tailored to how to you know, exist in the
world and be kind rather than you know, about anything
set related. But I think the wonderful thing about it
is that their life advice also wonderfully bleeds into work,
because you know, the two, there's a through line through
it all. And I feel like the main pieces of
(04:06):
advice that if anything I've taken from them about work
and the industry and everything is just like be is
just a way to be a human, I think is
applicable just to also everyone, like no people's names, like
just being most important than anyone else, Like it feels
very you know, that stuff feels very very important to
(04:27):
them and as a result, was very important to me.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
It seems so simple, and yet so many people do
not do that.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
It's really good.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
It's really good advice.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
As soon as the camera is off. But there you go.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, let's talk a little bit about working with the
CGI elements of this film. You know, there's some deeply
emotional parts, especially the connection between Toothless and Hiccup, And
what was it like building up that excitement and that
emotional level with you know, CGI.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It was definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
It wasn't as truly, it wasn't as strange as they
think it could have been, because there was a really
really brilliant puppeteering team who made every dragon foam Head
come to life in a way that I can't fully describe.
It was really really wonderful, and they're all so talented
and so to get to work with them was like
an absolute pleasure. But I mean, you know, in terms
(05:27):
of forging those connection, its truly hats off to Mason,
whose predominant scene partner for this movie is a foam head,
and I think that the way that he was able
to translate that kind of love that the two have
for each other from the animated one and to make
that feel just as real and touching in this movie
as something that I kind of a constantly looking at
(05:48):
him starry eyed for it was very very cool.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Any final thoughts on how you feel about the movie
being number one and we're going to the second weekend
it could be number one again. How are you feeling
about that?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Oh good, I'm very just kind of it all feels
very crazy and the bit of a whirlwind. But I'm
just trying to, you know, trying to just do normal
things in the midst of all of it, which my
friends are very good at. My friends and my family
very good at keeping me, like, still in normalcy despite
the madness going.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
On, keeping you grounded.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Huh, yeah, they're trying.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
I love that. Well, don't forget to celebrate a little
bit too, have so much fun. Thank you. I really
appreciate you taking the time to.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Talk with me so much. I was love you to
speak to you.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
She is so lovely and it was truly a delight
to talk with her. That was Nico Parker, who plays
Astroid in How to Train Your Dragon, which is in
theaters right now. Thanks so much for listening to entertain me.
Make sure you subscribe to the show, like it, leave
a review, share it with your friends, whatever you want
to do. We appreciate every single listen and I appreciate
(06:54):
every single one of you. Thanks for listening again, and
you can listen anywhere, anytime on the iHeartRadio app.
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