We cannot wait for Nimona!!!
Based on the award-winning graphic novel of the same name by She-Ra and the Princesses of Power creator ND Stevenson, the upcoming animated Netflix film follows an immensely powerful shapeshifting girl as she teams up with disgraced villain Ballister Blackheart as he tries to clear his name when he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit.
The animated movie has had quite the journey, beginning at the now-shut-down Blue Sky Studios and later being acquired by Disney before finally landing at Annapurna and Netflix.
But now, Nimona is coming, and we just got our first good look at her!
The first image gives us a look at Nimona’s shapeshifting powers, with her transformed into a giant red rhinoceros facing off against a scared knight as several other already-defeated knights lie scattered around the floor.
The other image shows Nimona and Ballister as they go down a staircase as a giant wanted poster showing their faces flashes next to them. Ballister is pouting with his head down when he sees the poster, and Nimona is celebrating with her arms wide.
\u201cNimona is coming this summer!\n\nFor now, thrilled to reveal Chlo\u00eb Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, and Eugene Lee Yang will be joined by an incredible collection of actors: Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul Charles, Indya Moore, Julio Torres, and Sarah Sherman!\u201d— Netflix (@Netflix) 1682428514
This is just a little tease of the art style, but we honestly cannot wait! It looks so vibrant and fun, and we love the contrast between Ballister’s pointed, serious face and Nimona’s round and rabid look. We’ve loved the comic this was based on for a decade now, and the more we see from and hear about the movie the more we get excited!
Netflix also announced the voice cast for the film, which stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona, Riz Ahmed as Ballister Blackheart, and Eugene Lee Yang as the champion of the kingdom, Ambrosius Goldenloin.
The cast also includes American Horror Story actress Frances Conroy, She-Ra actress Lorraine Toussaint, and SNL stars Beck Bennett and Sarah Sherman. It also features some of our absolute favorite queer actors, including RuPaul Charles, Indya Moore, and Julio Torres in undisclosed roles!
The original graphic novel is exceptionally queer, with Nimona being a queer shapeshifter who all trans people can relate to, and Ballister and Ambrosius being classic friends-to-enemies-to-lovers. With that basis and this cast, we can’t imagine that the movie will be anything but a gay triumph.
Nimona will be screened at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France next month and is slated for a release on Netflix later this year.