This is a dream team collaboration: 'Nimona' creator ND Stevenson and 'Loki' director Kate Herron are reuniting to bring a beloved middle-grade fantasy to the big screen with major studio backing.
Insiders are buzzing about the 'Nimona' connection. Roy Lee and Darlene Caamaño Loquet previously worked on the Oscar-nominated 'Nimona' movie, and they are back for Stevenson. Is Amazon MGM trying to replicate that critical success with a live-action pirate epic?
Confirmed: Amazon MGM is developing the film. Kate Herron (Loki) is directing and writing with Kari Granlund. The source novel 'Scarlet Morning' was published by Quill Tree Books in 2025. Roy Lee is producing via Vertigo Entertainment.
Amazon MGM is betting big on the Stevenson-Herron pipeline. If they can capture the heart of 'Nimona' in a live-action pirate adventure, they’ve got a franchise on their hands.
The tea is hot in Hollywood, folks, because Amazon MGM Studios has officially locked down the rights to ND Stevenson’s 2025 fantasy novel, *Scarlet Morning*, for a live-action feature adaptation. This isn't just any acquisition; it’s a strategic move to secure the next big fantasy hit by pairing the *Nimona* creator with *Loki* director Kate Herron. Herron is set to direct and produce through her newly formed A Bag of Rats banner, marking the production company’s first major project.
She is also co-writing the screenplay with Kari Granlund, signaling a tight creative circle that aims to translate Stevenson’s illustrated middle-grade world into a cinematic spectacle. The power players behind the camera are undeniably impressive, featuring heavyweights who have history with Stevenson’s work. Roy Lee is producing via Vertigo Entertainment, and Darlene Caamaño Loquet is on board for Oh My Darlin’ Entertainment.
Here is the kicker that has industry insiders talking: both Lee and Caamaño Loquet previously collaborated on the Netflix adaptation of Stevenson’s *Nimona*, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. Their return suggests Amazon MGM is trying to bottle that same lightning in a bottle, trusting the same team that helped bring Stevenson’s previous graphic novel to critical acclaim. Aubrey Davis is also producing for A Bag of Rats, having previously worked at Lord Miller Productions on projects like *The Afterparty*.
So, what is the story we are all waiting to see? *Scarlet Morning* follows two orphans who, tired of waiting for their parents to return, join a crew of pirates on a quest to save a land known as Dickerson’s Sea. Published by HarperCollins’ imprint Quill Tree Books last year, the novel is a middle-grade illustrated adventure. It is a bold choice for a live-action feature, moving away from the animated style that made *Nimona* a sensation.
The challenge for Herron and Granlund will be translating the whimsical, illustrated tone of the book into a grounded, high-stakes pirate drama that appeals to both younger audiences and the adult fantasy fans who flocked to *Nimona*. Herron’s track record is the primary reason this project has such high visibility. Beyond directing the first season of Disney+’s *Loki*, she has worked on the second season of HBO’s *The Last of Us* and directed episodes of Apple TV’s *Margo’s Got Money Troubles*.
She is also attached to helm the *The Sims* movie for Amazon MGM. By launching A Bag of Rats with Davis, Herron is clearly positioning herself as a powerhouse creator for large-scale features and TV. With Stevenson’s *Nimona* already shortlisted for the National Book Award and *Lumberjanes* under his belt, the source material has proven pedigree. The only question left is whether Amazon MGM can execute this pirate adventure with the same cultural impact as its animated predecessor.
