Nimona was a planned film that was supposed to come out on January 14, 2022, based on ND Stevenson's science fantasy webcomic of the same name, but was cancelled due to Blue Sky Studios closing down. [1] The film was going to be directed by Patrick Osborne and written by Marc Haimes.
Plot[]
The version would be the same as the webcomic and the eventual released Netflix version.
Production[]
The film was an adaptation of a webcomic of the same name that was in production at the Blue Sky studios. Nimona was reportedly 75% complete by the time Disney shut down production. At this time, the film was later picked up by Annapurna and DNEG and would be planned to be released by Netflix.
Contents[]
Some time before, some materials of the Nimona film itself had apparently been leaked in publications on some platforms, publications that remain deleted to this day. On July 14, 2021, some materials and footage of the unfinished film were uploaded to YouTube. which is no longer available. A new version of the YouTube test footage for the film can be found here.
Cast[]
- Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona
- Riz Ahmed as Blackheart
Cancellation[]
Due to Blue Sky Studios (although Spies in Disguise was critically successful by critics and fans), it didn't make enough money (outside of Blu-Ray and DVD sales in addition to some merchandise sales of the film) closing down on April 10 , 2021, though Disney still maintains the rights to Blue Sky’s library and occasionally use their properties. Disney's involvement in Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill and lack of criticism from CEO Bob Chapek until after the bill had passed, three former Blue Sky staff members stated the film received pushback from Disney leadership, centered around the film's LGBT themes and a same-sex kiss.[2]
Result[]
- The film rights were later picked up by Netflix and it resulted in the 2023 film being produced by Annapurna Animation & distributed by Netflix.
Trivia[]
- Since Disney decided not to save the movie (as with Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild), it was cancelled temporarily.
- All animation progress, voice recording and other work done for the film were only 75% complete, especially before Blue Sky's closure.
- The cancelled film was being shopped around to other studios to be completed until April 11, 2022.
- Spies in Disguise, which was released on Christmas Day 2019, is now the final film from Blue Sky Studios, and the only film from the studio to be released under Disney.
- Ice Age: Scrat Tales, a shorts series released on April 13, 2022, would be the final production from Blue Sky Studios.
- On April 11, 2022, it was announced that Netflix had picked up the rights to the film, while DNEG provides animation where Blue Sky left off. Annapurna would also take care of the remaining animation.[3]. It was released on June 30, 2023 to positive reception.
- Nimona was originally going to be the first Disney film with a major same-sex kiss. However, after the film was cancelled during Blue Sky's closure, Lightyear (which was a box office bomb) became the first Disney film with a major same-sex kiss.
- Nimona would also be Blue Sky's first hybrid animated film since The Peanuts Movie before it got cancelled.
References[]
- 1.https://deadline.com/2021/02/blue-sky-studios-closing-disney-ice-age-franchise-animation-1234690310/
- https://www.cbr.com/nimona-film-abandoned-disney-blue-sky-shut-down/
- https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/02/10/nimona-cancelled/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/nimona/comments/lihk36/breaking_disney_is_shutting_down_blue_sky_studios/