ND Stevenson cited Star Wars: Attack of the Clones as an inspiration for Nimona.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Stevenson went over the various media that inspired his graphic novel, which is getting a film adaptation from Netflix. One of the influences referenced was Zam Wessell, a shape-changing assassin who tried to kill Padme Amidala in the first act of Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones. "I was really compelled by this character," Stevenson explained. "I just wanted to see more of the shapeshifting. I wanted to know how far you could go with that. If you could turn into any person, what does that mean? I think that's where my love of shapeshifters specifically started." He would later make Zam Wessell a focal character in his fan-comic based on The Book of Boba-Fett, This Place Was Home.
What Is Nimona?
Stevenson first published Nimona in 2012 as a webcomic. The high fantasy series followed its titular protagonist, a young shapeshifter who becomes a sidekick to the villainous Ballister Blackheart in his crusade to expose a corrupt Institution. The series was later reprinted as a graphic novel from HarperCollins and became a New York Times bestseller as well as winning the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album - Reprint. A film adaptation was announced in 2015, produced by 20th Century Fox and developed by Blue Sky Animation.
However, after the Walt Disney Company acquired Fox, the Nimona movie was delayed several times before Disney shuttered Blue Sky, leaving the film "about 75% complete." Staffers alleged that the film's prominent queer characters and themes may have informed Disney's decision to cancel it. In April 2022, Annapurna announced that it would be picking up and finishing Nimona, with Netflix premiering the film. A trailer for Nimona was released this past May, showcasing the movie's wicked sense of humor and stunning animation.
Nimona stars Chloë Grace Moretz in the lead role, alongside Riz Ahmed as Ballister and Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin, the Institution's champion and Ballister's former best friend. Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul Charles, Sarah Sherman, Indya Moore and Julio Torres will also have roles. Nick Bruno and Troy Quane will direct the film from a script by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor.
Nimona releases June 30 on Netflix.
Source: Entertainment Weekly