A fantasy property is always a difficult one to adapt for the screen. The visuals, characters, and world-building will not translate properly without the right vision behind them. Luckily for us fantasy lovers out there, the recently dropped adaptation of the wildly popular, standalone graphic novel Nimona is shaping up to be a great success for Netflix and the entire cast and crew.
Featuring well-known names like Chloe Grace-Moretz as the titular shapeshifter, and fresh new voices like Eugene Lee Yang (of Try Guys fame), Nimona brings a fresh perspective to graphic novel adaptations, which can often be hit or miss within the world of film and television.
Nimona offers up several ideas that differentiate it from its source material. But what are the biggest changes that the film offers up? Let’s take a look.
~ Spoiler Alert for Nimona ~
The Relationship Between Ballister and Ambrosius
One of the main throughlines of Nimona is the relationship between knights Ballister Boldheart and Ambrosius Goldenloin. Our first look into their dynamic is a positive one filled with love and support, as well as excitement regarding the knighting ceremony. In the original graphic novel, we’re given a very different look at this relationship.
An inciting incident involving Ballister losing his arm has already occurred, and has caused a great strain between the two men, who-we’re shown in a much more veiled manner-are more than just friends.
The specifics of their dynamic are also much less obvious since Ambrosius’ character gets a welcome makeover in the film. In the graphic novel, the character is portrayed as more vapid and conceited, and the tension between himself and Ballister is much more ego-centric and less about deep hurt within a romantic relationship. Shifting Ambrosius into a more nuanced character allows the emotion between them to take center stage, a shift that makes all the difference in our attachment to the character, and the story shift does wonders to bring the queer relationship at its heart to life.
The Addition & Removal of Characters
While many of the characters in Nimona made the transition from page to screen, there are a couple of notable changes between the two. As far as missing characters go, the novel’s Dr. Meredith Blitzmeyer is notably absent. In the novel, Ballister encounters Dr. Blitzmeyer, a scientist who has created a machine that can stop Nimona from being able to shapeshift. The implication here is also that this device may potentially be the only thing that could kill Nimona if needed.
This character is never introduced or spoken about in the 2023 film, and the idea of a device that stunts the sassy shifters’ powers is never brought up. What does this mean for the story now and potentially in the future? Was the character simply cut due to changes to the storyline, or will she potentially be introduced in a sequel, if such a thing comes to pass? There’s no official word for the time being, but the response to the film could certainly leave that door open for Netflix and the filmmakers.
An additional character who functions as both a new character and a bit of an offshoot of an existing one is that of bully Todd (dubbed Thoddeus Sureblade). Todd was written in part to take on the role of cocky grand-standing that’s mostly portrayed by Ambrosius in the novel, picking on the leads and generally getting on everyone’s nerves. Basically, he’s a big, dumb, hilarious douchebag who provides some additional comic relief, while also embodying how society regularly treats anything out of the norm.
Another addition in a smaller form is Diego the Squire, who essentially serves as a character to help drive the plot forward by providing crucial information to Ballister and Nimona regarding the Director.
Ballister Has A Different Name
In the graphic novel, Ballisters’ last name is Blackheart, however during the film’s knighting ceremony, the queen dubs the brooding bloke Ballister Boldheart. This may seem like a small change, but in the context of the film it solidifies Ballister as a true accidental villain, a shift from his original character.
The novel portrays Blackheart as an anti-hero with a strict set of rules who is actively trying to dismantle the Institute by committing “evil” acts. By changing his name to Boldheart, we easily see how he’s more of a victim of circumstance, the underdog with a heart of gold. This of course is aided by Riz Ahmed’s charming and sometimes goofy portrayal of Ballister, a man who has no idea what he’s in for.
Nimona Gets An Extended Backstory
The addition of a backstory featuring Gloreth and Nimona as friends who become enemies provides even more complexity to a story that calls out the various prejudices that exist within society. The world and population at large likes to shun anything considered out of the norm, and Nimona demonstrates beautifully how children are not born with said prejudice, but learn it over time from those around them.
As children, Gloreth and Nimona meet and strike up a friendship, and rather than be afraid of Nimona’s abilities, Gloreth accepts and celebrates them. That is, until the other members of her village instill this fear within her, turning her against her friend and teaching her to shun and actively try to hurt what they refuse to understand.
This aspect was one that was very important to the original writer and creator ND Stevenson, who hoped for a more detailed backstory for his character.
The Ending Offers a Much More Hopeful Tone Than the Novel
One of the biggest changes to the film is the lighter and more optimistic tone that it brings to the end of the story. In the original story, Nimona appears to have been killed following the final confrontation, with Ballister realizing that she has returned to shapeshifting, but Nimona disappears before he’s given the opportunity to make amends with her.
The film shifts gears in this regard. After Nimona’s sacrifice to save the city, it appears that she is lost. However, upon returning to their shared lair, Ballister is thrilled to hear Nimona’s voice greeting him with a simple “Hey, Boss”. This could certainly be a bit of sequel bait for the audience, but it presents a lovely ending for these friends and their story.
With its adaptation, Nimona has proven that differences between books and their films don’t always have to spell failure. In fact, these changes provide a welcome additional layer of diversity and issues to tackle that make the film all the more poignant for today’s audience. There’s no denying that Nimona is a great adaptation of a popular property and more than worth checking out. Fingers crossed for more of these great adaptations as these incredible properties cast a wider net, and draw more and more fans into the world of literature.
