Warning: This article contains spoilers for the film Nimona.
The animation dropped by Disney (oh ye of little faith), which then found a home on Netflix, has been welcomed with open arms by critics and viewers alike. While Disney’s recent films are flopping hard, Nimona seems to have knocked it out of the park with its updated take on the fantasy world, which tips many conventions upside down. With it appearing to be a hit already, will we see a sequel?
The story, based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson, follows the first “common-born” Knight, Ballister (Riz Ahmed), who is accused of a heinous crime and is now on the run from everything he held dear, including his love, fellow Knight, Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang). He is soon approached by the delightfully mischievous and enigmatic Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), who believes that the two of them together can wreak havoc on the world, which is the last thing Ballister wants to do, but perhaps something that the world needs most of all.
Its release during Pride Month was a top choice given that the film’s themes include identity, acceptance, and inclusion, with the film’s main message being not to shun what we don’t understand and brand it as a “monster.” Of course, there are other LGBTQ+ narratives to this story. The characters of Ballister and Ambrosius are in a gay relationship that would appear to be accepted but starts a little more secretive before becoming much more open in the end.
Then there is the character of Nimona, a shapeshifting nebula being who, as we find out, simply wants connection. Throughout the film, Ballister, unsure of how to deal with her shapeshifting form, constantly asks her to appear as a girl, which she declines with a stony glare. She later explains that not shifting makes her feel uncomfortable in her own skin: “I feel worse when I don’t do it. Like my insides are itchy.” A sentiment that perhaps many in the queer community can empathize with.
Critics have raved about the film, citing its fun and bubbly energy as well as the great chemistry between Nimona and Ballister. The fact that Disney has lost out on a well-reviewed movie just because it was apparently “too gay” does feel a little poetic, and we can’t help but feel a little satisfied with that.
Is Nimona dead?
The end saw Nimona sacrifice herself for the very people who had tried to bring her down, breaking down the wall that had encircled their city, opening them up to the beauty beyond (a very on-the-nose metaphor right there). Nimona’s demise seems final until Ballister arrives home to a shining pink light, allowing us to presume she has risen once more.
This was foreshadowed very early on, with Nimona herself talking about rising from the ashes like a phoenix in her first conversation with Ballister. Later, her final form when she took out the canons appeared to be that of a phoenix. Even before she takes off on her apparent “suicide mission,” she tells Ballister, “Hey boss, be right back.” So, much as she survived for thousands of years before, she knows she can survive this too.
The film did wrap up its story but ended on a note that would certainly allow for a sequel to pick up from.
Is there going to be a Nimona 2?
The film has done well with critics, and it currently sitting with an excellent 93 percent on the Tomatometer on top of having a 94 percent audience score. Execs have to be happy with those numbers, but we will have to wait to see what the viewing figures look like when the Netflix Top Ten for the last week comes out to see if people are tuning in to watch the film (the only metric that Netflix seems to care about these days). The reports from Flixpatrol, though, do show that it is doing well, so we should see it on the Top Ten soon enough.
Currently, there is no Nimona 2 confirmed. The film ended on a well-rounded and happy note, which could be enough for fans to let it serve as a stand-alone project, but the ending did leave a little wiggle room for something more by bringing back Nimona without seeing her face.
Usually, Netflix waits a couple of months before announcing any sequels to measure audience engagement, though they rarely add sequels to original animated films. One of the few exceptions they have made in recent years was The Sea Beast which was released last year (and contains very similar messages). The Sea Beast remained on the Top Ten list for several weeks, implying that Nimona will have to accomplish the same feet if it wishes to earn a sequel.
Though, there was a significant gap between The Sea Beasts release and its sequel announcement, so fans may just have to weather this waiting period to find out if Ballister and Nimona will make a comeback.
What could the sequel be about?
By the film’s end, people realize that Nimona was never the monster, that she, in fact, saved them, and they honor her with flowers, gifts, and letters of thanks by the wall, which she blasts down. Hell, even douchebag Knight Sir Thoddeaus Sureblade was seen leaving a present. The wall is now down, and people in the city have a whole new world to explore, which could provide endless material for a sequel.
Nimona, our feisty protagonist, could continue to explore the main message as she adjusts to a world where people accept her. However, I am sure some characters could still be wary of her differences. There are also characters from the graphic novel that did not make it into the film, such as Dr. Meredith Blitzmeyer, who has her own ways of combatting Nimona’s shapeshifting abilities.
A sequel story could come about in numerous ways, although we wouldn’t mind if Nimona remained a stand-alone movie. It was fun, action-packed, moving, funny, and ended in an acceptable way that left audiences feeling satisfied. Fans just have to keep their ears to the ground to find out if Netflix decides the film is worth a sequel.
