Chloë Grace Moretz is ready to save Riz Ahmed in animated form.
The two actors star in the long-awaited queer graphic novel adaptation “Nimona,” now released by Netflix after it was previously scrapped by The Walt Disney Co. after the company allegedly objected to the now-defunct Blue Sky Studios’ inclusion of a self-sexual kiss.
The official synopsis for “Nimona” reads: When Ballister Boldheart (Ahmed), 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 (Moretz). . , a mischievous teenager with a taste for chaos, who is also a shapeshifting creature that Ballister has been trained to destroy. But with the entire kingdom ready to take him, Nimona is the best (or technically the only) sidekick Ballister could hope for. And as the lines between heroes, villains and monsters begin to blur, the two set out to cause some serious mayhem–for Ballister to clear his name once and for all, and for Nimona to…simply cause some serious chaos.
Also starring Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, Indya Moore, RuPaul Charles, Julio Torres and Sarah Sherman.
“Nimona” is based on the 2015 bestselling graphic novel by ND Stevenson. The film is directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane. The screenplay is co-written by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor. Karen Ryan, Julie Zackary and Roy Lee are producing, with Megan Ellison, Robert L. Baird, Andrew Millstein and John Powers Middleton serving as executive producers. About the author Stevenson is a co-producer.
Before Netflix acquired the film in partnership with Annapurna Pictures, Blue Sky Studios executives said “Nimona” was “75 percent” completed before Disney allegedly “pushed back” on the story’s central LGBTQ+ themes. “Nimona” resumed production early last year with DNEG Animation.
Author Stevenson celebrated Netflix by distributing the film,tweet, “’Nimona’ has always been a courageous little story that never ended. She’s a fighter… but she also has some really great people fighting for her. I am freaked out to announce that NIMONA FILM IS ALIVE…coming in 2023 from Annapurna and Netflix.
“Nimona” will premiere June 30 on Netflix. Check out the trailer below.
