Then it gives a sense of urgency and purpose to the start of the story in Berk."
For DeBlois, this served as inspiration for the new Berk.
“The truth is, the Vikings did travel far and wide.
They were on the Silk Road.
They’re in the Far East.
They’re in North Africa.
They even had a name for North Africa, which is called Blaland.”
“They interacted with all of these cultures and traded with all of these cultures.
So it makes sense.”
Custom Image by Diana Acuña
By casting major characters like Astrid with actors of different ethnicities, the film gains a natural universal appeal.
“Astrid’s natural ambition and well-trained talent doesn’t earn her the advantages that Hiccup gets.
“She’s worked really hard for the attention that she gets.
Image via Universal Pictures
She’s the kid [Stoick] would have loved to have had.
Hiccup is never focused on this destiny.
His mind goes elsewhere.
Image via Universal Pictures
He has the benefit of privilege.
He’s the son of the chief, and so he coasts by.
Astrid can really call him out on that.”
Image via Universal Pictures
It expands the world-building and makes Berk a more unique setting to explore and expand upon.
It builds upon the history of the original films and real life to introduce shades to the fantasy genre.
They’re now generations in, they’ve been mixing it all in.
All that sort of nonsense [surrounding the diverse casting], I just discount it.”
