The movie adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi's debut YA novel, Children of Blood and Bone, is officially on the horizon. After years in the making, it looks like the literary phenomenon is finally shaping up to go from paper to screen, with an official cast announcement for the upcoming movie.
Lauded for its complex world-building, which has often been likened to Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, Children of Blood and Bone is inspired by Adeyemi's West African roots and merges fantastical elements with social commentary. “The first layer is this epic story, but on the second layer, there's this allegory for the modern Black experience,” Adeyemi told Jimmy Fallon in 2018.
Keep reading for everything we know so far about the Children of Blood and Bone movie.
What is Children of Blood and Bone about?
Children of Blood and Bone is Nigerian-American writer Tomi Adeyemi's debut YA novel. Published in 2018, it is part of a trilogy now referred to as the Legacy of Orïsha. The trilogy also includes 2019's Children of Virtue and Vengeance and 2024's Children of Anguish and Anarchy. All three books debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestsellers list.
The Legacy of Orïsha series follows the story of Zélie Adebola, a young girl with magical powers who sets out to give the magic back to her people while fighting an oppressive monarchy.
The first book's synopsis is as follows: “Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.”
When was the Children of Blood and Bone movie announced?
The Children of Blood and Bone movie adaptation has been in the works for quite some time. In fact, Fox 2000 Pictures acquired the rights to adapt the book for the screen even before the first book came out in 2018. After Disney acquired a majority stake in 21st Century Fox, the movie was moved to Lucasfilm for a while before Paramount Pictures bought back the rights in 2022, with Adeyemi on board to adapt and pen the script as well as executive produce.
“Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone has not only become a phenomenon in the YA world, it has transformed every expectation of what world-building fantasy can be,” said Daria Cercek, co-president of Paramount Pictures Motion Group, at the time. “It’s with enormous pride that our studio — along with Tomi and our partners Wyck, Marty, and Karen — set out to bring this franchise to life on the big screen. With its thought-provoking and timely themes, we know that this story will resonate with a global audience.”
Paramount reportedly won the rights to the Legacy of Orïsha franchise over bids from multiple studios, including Universal, Amazon, and Netflix.
Who is directing the Children of Blood and Bone movie?
In December 2023, Deadline reported that Gina Prince-Bythewood is set to direct the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone. Gina Prince-Bythewood's spouse, Reggie Rock Bythewood, is also attached to the project as an executive producer alongside Adeyemi.
In case you are not familiar with Gina Prince-Bythewood, she is best known for her work on Love & Basketball (2000) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008). Most recently, Prince-Bythewood made headlines after becoming the first Black woman to direct a major superhero comic adaptation with Netflix's The Old Guard (2020). Her latest project was The Woman King (2022), starring Viola Davis and following the story of an all-female warrior army known as the Agojie tasked with protecting the West African kingdom of Dahomey.
Speaking to Elle in June 2024, Adeyemi admitted she and Prince-Bythewood had a great working relationship. “She’s the calmest force of nature I’ve ever witnessed, and collaborating with her has been so much fun. I remember I was describing it to someone, I was like, ‘It feels like the yin and yang symbol coming together,’” Adeyemi told the publication. “What Gina does so well is tell these deep, complex stories of women who look like us front and center, with incredible action set pieces, incredible cinematography. It feels divine. It feels bigger than [just] making this project. We’re really in sync.”
The movie is being produced by Temple Hill Entertainment's Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen in tandem with Sunswept Entertainment's Karen Rosenfelt, who also worked together in the Twilight series, so expectations are high. They will also be joined by Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures.
Who's in the Children of Blood and Bone cast?
On Jan. 22, 2025, Variety reported exactly who will be in the Children of Blood and Bone cast. As reported by local Nigerian publication Pulse, casting for the movie officially began in July.
As previously speculated, South African actor Thuso Mbedu will play protagonist Zélie Adebola. Mbedu is known for her roles in The Underground Railroad and The Woman King. She also has a voice acting role in Mufasa: The Lion King.
Tosin Cole, a British and American actor of Nigerian descent), who was in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will play Zélie's older brother Tzain. Amandla Stenberg (The Acolyte and Bodies, Bodies, Bodies) will play Princess Amari, King Saran's daughter. Damson Idris, who is British of Nigerian descent, will play King Saran's son, Prince Inan.
Variety also noted that author Tomi Adeyemi was first inspired to write Black characters and stories after Stenberg and Lenny Kravitz experienced racist backlash to their characters in The Hunger Games.
Speaking to the Chicago Tribune in 2028, Adeyemi admitted she wrote King Saran with Idris Elba as inspiration. She also dreamcast Viola Davis as Mama Agba in the same interview. “Those are my secret dreams that I hold on to. I’m getting excited that there’s going to be so many Black people, and it’s going to be so amazing,” she said at the time.
Adeyemi truly manifested that because Variety confirmed that Viola Davis will play Mama Agba. Meanwhile, Idris Elba won't play King Saran, but he will play Lekan. Cynthia Erivo will play Admiral Kaea, Chiwetel Ejiofor will play King Saran, and Lashana Lynch will play Jumoke.
Paramount also shared that actors Regina King, Diaana Babnicova, and Bukky Bakray are currently in talks to join the project, portraying Queen Nehanda, Folake, and Binta, respectively.
Previously, on November 11, 2024, director Gina Prince-Bythewood took to her Instagram to post an open casting call for the movie. Though characters were not named, the call was directed at Black male and female actors ages 10–mid-20s. The call was for actors living in Nigeria only.
Adeyemi reshared the open casting call to her own page with some commentary, sharing that the call was to cast divîners. “Because this book is based on Nigerian spirituality and mythology, we are especially looking for Nigerians to submit, but I won't be mad if you submit anyway,” she said. According to Paramount, the remaining cast to be announced will be actors from the open call only, with filming set to begin in South Africa “in the coming weeks” since the announcement.
Has the Children of Blood and Bone movie wrapped filming yet?
According to an Instagram post by Tomi Adeyemi, filming for the Children of Blood and Bone movie began around February 17, 2025. The author posted a picture of one of the set chairs to her account, which she captioned "And…action🎬."
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On June 2, 2025, Prince-Bythewood announced on her Instagram that the Children of Blood and Bone movie had wrapped filming the day before, just a little under three months since production began.
“That is a wrap on production!” the director wrote. “74 days. Two countries and two islands. A passionate and dedicated crew. And an extraordinary cast who gave EVERYTHING. And the journey has just begun…”
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When will the Children of Blood and Bone movie be released?
Paramount Pictures has confirmed that the release date for Children of Blood and Bone will be on Jan. 15, 2027, in IMAX.
This post will be updated as news about the Children of Blood and Bone movie breaks.
