Netflix has picked up the animated film adaptation of ND Stevenson’s comic Nimona, which will premiere sometime in 2023. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona, Riz Ahmed as Ballister Boldheart and Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrose Goldenloin. Previously, Nimona was in development at 20th Century’s Blue Sky Studios before Disney closed the studio in 2021. Stevenson announced the news on Twitter.
“Nimona has always been a brave little story that wouldn’t stop,” they wrote. “She’s a fighter … but she also has some really great people fighting for her.”
Nimona has always been a spunky little story that just wouldn’t stop. She’s a fighter… but she also has some really great people fighting for her. I am so excited to announce that THE NIMONA MOVIE IS ALIVE… is coming your way in 2023 from Annapurna and Netflix pic.twitter.com/wEZuM2sXTt
— ND Stevenson (@Gingerhazing) April 11, 2022
Stevenson created Nimona while he was in college, based on a character they created in high school. Originally a webcomic, Nimona follows the eponymous shapeshifter who becomes the sidekick of a scheming villain as the two plot to destroy the all-powerful Institute. Stevenson published Nimona on Tumblr and it became her thesis before Harper Collins reached out and published a book version in 2015. Nimona has won an Eisner Award, a Cybils Award, and a Cartoonist Studio Prize, and was also listed in the New York Times Best Sellers.
The film adaptation was announced in 2015, although the film was delayed several times following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. When it was finally canceled, the film was almost 75% complete. Former Blue Sky employees spoke out, saying they received backlash from Disney regarding the film’s same-sex romance and overarching LGBTQ themes.