We are in fact getting a Nimona movie! Creator ND Stevenson took to Twitter to announce that the film has been picked up by Netflix and Annapurna, for release in 2023.
Nimona was in development at Fox’s Blue Sky Studios, but was halted after Disney’s acquisition of Fox. Production restarted with DNEG Animation, with Nimona voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz, Ballister Boldheart by Riz Ahmed, and the perfectly-monikered Ambrosius Goldenloin by Eugene Lee Yang.
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Nimona’s always been a spunky little story that just wouldn’t stop. She’s a fighter…but she’s also got some really awesome people fighting for her. I am excited out of my mind to announce that THE NIMONA MOVIE IS ALIVE…coming at you in 2023 from Annapurna and Netflix 🤘 pic.twitter.com/wEZuM2sXTt
— ND Stevenson (@Gingerhazing) April 11, 2022
Nimona is the story of a violence-prone shapeshifter navigating a magical/futuretech world and fighting a fairly nefarious Institute beside Ballister Boldheart, who might just have some special feelings about Mr. Goldenloin. The story was an early success for Stevenson, who started the story while they were at art school. It began life as a web comic (and won a Cartoonist Studio Prize) before Stevenson adapted it into a graphic novel, which in turn won an Eisner Award and a Cybils Award. But if for some reason you’re on the fence about a bloodthirsty shapeshifter, allow Alex Brown to sing Nimona’s praises. And if you want to know some of the reasons Stevenson’s take on She-Ra was so fantastic, check out this love song from Emmet Asher-Perrin.
Cartoon Brew reported Netflix’s synopsis for the film adaptation:
A Knight is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he’s sworn to kill. Set in a techno-medieval world unlike anything animation has tackled before, this is a story about the labels we assign to people and the shapeshifter who refuses to be defined by anyone.
We don’t have an official release date yet, but 2023 is an excellent starting point.