Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed star in the brilliant animated film Nimona. Based on the award-winning graphic novel by ND Stevenson, a commoner knight in a futuristic medieval society is framed for murdering the beloved queen. Ballister Boldheart (Ahmed) gets an unlikely shape-shifting ally in the mischievous Nimona (Moretz), who pleads to be his sidekick and help to find the true killer.

The Kingdom is surrounded by a wall to protect against a monster’s attack. A strict hierarchy dictates who can serve and protect. The Institute sends Ballister’s true love, Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang), to hunt down the traitor. Ballister questions whether Nimona is the fabled monster he’s been training to fight. He then realizes the folly of an unjust system to persecute someone for just being different.

Nimona was shelved near completion when Blue Sky Studios was closed by Disney after acquiring Fox’s media business. Its subject matter was considered too controversial. Ahmed talks about being “heartbroken” after they “put so much into the film.” Moretz agrees “it was a really sad day” because they only “had one or two sessions left.” Annapurna Pictures finished Nimona and sold distribution rights to Netflix. The fantastic news “was a huge relief” for Moretz. The actors were back recording with directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane “within a week.”

The actors are keenly aware of the assault on LGBTQ rights across the country. Moretz hopes the story will resonate with those being “ostracized” and “villainized.” But Ahmed also preaches that “you don’t have to watch this film for any issues.” It’s “hilarious” and “full of mayhem.” He believes Nimona is “genuinely fresh” and “unique in the animation space.”

Chloë Grace Moretz as Nimona

MovieWeb: Nimona’s the “other” who’s being persecuted for being who she is. We live in a time when the LGBTQ community is being targeted. What can you say as the star to watch this movie and understand acceptance?

Chloë Grace Moretz: I think this is a story about self-love, about acceptance. This is a story for anyone that’s ever felt other than anyone, that’s ever felt ostracized, or being villainized for just being themselves. This is a project that deserves to be seen now, on a platform like Netflix, which is in so many homes and available to so many audiences. This is a really beautiful film, a huge learning lesson for a lot of people. And it also breaks it down in such simple, simple terms. They asked her a million times. Who are you? What are you?

Chloë Grace Moretz: She is Nimona. She’s exactly who she wants to be. That honesty is something that is so important, so beautiful. I think self-acceptance, self-love, and acceptance of other people is really important.

Related: Chloë Grace Moretz’s 10 Best Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes

MW: Talk about the process of actually seeing the final product after Blue Sky Studios was sold. Riz [Ahmed] spoke about being heartbroken. How’d you feel when there was a possibility the film wouldn’t be made?

Chloë Grace Moretz: I think that’s exactly the word. Heartbroken is how we all felt. It was a really sad day when we found out that this wasn’t going to see the light of day. We were so close to being finished with the movie. We had like one or two sessions left. Then we got the call that Big Sky was shuttering, and this wasn’t going to come out any other way.

Chloë Grace Moretz: I think it was, maybe even a year later, or something like that, that we found out. I got a call. It is going to come out. We’re going to get back to recording in like a week. It’s going to be on Netflix. That was just a huge relief and an excitement. That’s a big testament to who Nimona is, what she stands for. The life of the movie has a very similar story to the life of the characters within the movie. I think that’s just a big testament to Nimona.

MW: Riz was only in the booth with directors Troy [Quane] and Nick [Bruno]. They voiced all the other characters. I assume that was the same thing with you. Nimona is so expressive. Talk about getting to that point with only the guys as feedback.

Chloë Grace Moretz: It was funny. We didn’t meet each other for a long time. I kind of had a voice in my head of what I thought he would be doing. And then slowly, they’d kind of show us snippets of our voices cut together. I’m like, “Oh my God, that’s what we sound like together.” It was fun. Nick and Troy are brilliant directors. They’re incredible to work opposite to be honest. I think they really took it above and beyond.

Related: Nimona Review: A Brilliant and Timely Adaptation of the Award-Winning Graphic Novel

Riz Ahmed as Ballister Boldheart

MovieWeb: Do you think you’ll ever play a character with a better name than Ballister Boldheart?

Riz Ahmed: I don’t think it’s possible to. I think I’ve peaked in terms of character names right there.

MW: Ballister has a queer love story. Acceptance is one of the Nimona’s driving themes. We live in a time when LGBTQ rights are under attack. I grew up in a place where this film could be banned. What can you tell educators, parents, and kids to have them watch this film to gain some understanding?

Riz Ahmed: I don’t think I have to tell them anything to watch this film. I don’t think the reason to watch this film is because of any issues it deals with. I think the reason to watch this film is that it’s a brilliant film, it’s hilarious, it’s full of mayhem, and mischief, and action. And yes, at its heart is also a message that is profound about acceptance, about accepting other people who are different from you, whether they’re a shape-shifter or a knight, whether there’s someone that you think of as a villain. I think that’s the central message of the film.

Riz Ahmed: And if in watching, people’s eyes, their minds, their hearts, might be opened up a little bit to people who are different to them, in the real world, to people who might be queer, like Ballister, or people who might be different in any way, I think that’s a beautiful thing. But I don’t feel like that’s the reason to watch the film. I think the reason why people won’t be able to resist watching the film is because this is where the party’s at. This is an amazingly fun watch. And through that journey, you also will be confronted with some truths.

MW: it’s been a bumpy ride from beginning production to actually appearing on Netflix. Talk about that process for you. What was your reaction when Blue Sky Studios was sold. Did you have any worries about the film coming out?

Riz Ahmed: Yeah, I was just heartbroken for a while because I think we’d all put so much into this. Troy [Quane] and Nick [Bruno], in particular, our directors were just incredible. We recorded in the booth on our own most of us. So, those two guys played every other character in everyone’s recording sessions. That’s the level of commitment we’re talking about. And yeah, it just felt sad that maybe this wouldn’t be able to see the light of day after all that work we put in. So glad it is now, and so glad for ourselves, but also for audiences. I feel like this is genuinely fresh. I don’t think we’ve seen something like this before in the animation space.

Nimona premieres June 30th exclusively on Netflix.