When a knight in a futuristic medieval world is framed for a crime he didn’t commit, the only one who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona — a mischievous teen who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he’s sworn to destroy
The original comic book, by Noelle Stevenson, is simply but stylishly drawn and put in a setting is more medieval than futuristic. The new film boosts that to a cyberpunk future, where the roles of medieval society still stand.
Stevenson began working on Nimona while attending the Maryland Institute College of Art, revisiting a character he had created in high school. Stevenson published Nimona as a webcomic from 2012 through 2014, initially through Tumblr, developing the story and the art style as time progressed. The finished work ultimately doubled as his senior thesis. After an agent reached out to Stevenson, HarperCollins released Nimona in print form in 2015. It has been translated into at least 16 other languages and adapted into an audiobook.
Nimona‘s accolades include an Eisner Award, a Cybils Award, and a Cartoonist Studio Prize. Reviews and academic analyses have highlighted themes of queerness and fluidity of identity, and how they oppose and subvert traditional controlling institutions and exclusionary systems.
Originally a production of Blue Sky Studios, the film was cancelled following Disney’s shutdown of the studio in early 2021. At the time of it’s cancellation, the film was reportedly 75% finished. The film was revived by Annapurna, DNEG and Netflix the following year. Although, 20th Century Animation (20th Century Studios) is not involved with this film because it was scrapped and removed from the 20th Century Studios catalog for unknown reasons.
Nimona stars Chloë Grace Moretz in the title role (you’ll know her as Hit Girl from Kickass, and Carrie White in the 2013 remake of Carrie) Riz Ahmed as Ballister Boldheart, Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin. Written by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor (Big Hero 6, Monsters University) and directed by Nick Brono and Troy Quane, Nimona makes its Netflix debut on June 30, 2023.
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Thaddeus Howze is an award-winning writer, editor, podcaster and activist creating speculative fiction, scientific, political and cultural commentary from his office in Hayward, California.
Thaddeus’ speculative fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and literary journals. He has published two books, ‘Hayward’s Reach’ (2011), a collection of short stories and ‘Broken Glass’ (2013) an urban fantasy novella starring his favorite paranormal investigator, Clifford Engram.
