Tomi Adeyemi is the mastermind behind the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, which launched with the 2018 novel Children of Blood and Bone. The story ended up on The New York Times Best Seller list for young adult books, which only prompted attempts for a movie. The Children of Blood and Bone adaptation finally moved forward with director Gina Prince-Bythewood and a star-studded cast of Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Regina King, Lashana Lynch, Viola David, Amandla Stenberg, and Damson Idris.
With Children of Blood and Bone now less than six months from its January 2027 release, Adeyemi spoke out on her Instagram Story, responding to the question, "why don't you post about the adaptation of your first film adaptation anymore?"
In a message posted on June 25, she stated that “there is a reason i will not post anything about the adaptation of my work… that's all" before sending "from this point on, if you want to support me, you can purchase any edition of the trilogy at a local independent children's bookstore (books of wonder, nyc)."
The author shared a screenshot of what appears to be a chat dating back to February 28, 2025, in which she posted, "do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. do not text me. do not call me." It's unclear who Adeyemi was responding to since it seems like a mystery person is hoping to "reconnect." However, the image shows star Stenberg blocked.
The story ends with a response about whether she had seen a cut, saying, "i have not seen the film, and i will not watch it. its been painful holding this back from you all.” Adeyemi co-wrote the screenplay with Prince-Bythewood.
It's unclear what instigated the Children of Blood and Blood author to end her support for the upcoming adaptation. However, even before the novel's publication, hopes to develop a movie took some time.
The movie's first challenge was securing a studio after the ownership of the rights had been changed many times. In early 2017, there was an option to adapt the story with Fox 2000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment, and Rick Famuyiwa was originally attached as the director. Once Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, Lucasfilm took over the movie with Kay Oyegun as the writer. However, it was put on a turnaround in late 2021, and Adeyemi was reportedly discontent with the studio's efforts.
Once the rights lapsed as Lucasfilm turned its attention to its own IP, Paramount Pictures got the rights to the story in January 2022, and the adaptation started to move forward the following year. The majority of the cast was named between late 2024 and early 2025, but not without colorism controversy over Stenberg and Thuso Mbedu's casting, since they were lighter-skinned than the characters in the book.
Stenberg responded to the criticism over an eight-minute TikTok video, saying that Adeyemi wanted her in the role. It was posted in February 2025, which is weeks before the date that the author supposedly blocked her. In one part of the video, she stated the following interaction with Adeyemi:
"She goes, 'Amandla, I want you to know that when you were a little girl and you were cast as Rue in ‘The Hunger Games,’ and people said that Rue’s death wouldn’t be as sad because you’re a Black girl—that inspired me to write this series so that Black girls like you and Black girls of all shades could have a story written about them. We started crying, and I said to myself, 'God wants me here.'"
The adaptation started filming in early 2025 and wrapped in June that same year. Currently, Paramount and none of those involved with the movie have responded to Adeyemi's scathing post.
Children of Bone and Blood is a romantic fantasy, following the heroine Zélie Adebola (Mbedu), who wants to restore magic in the Orïsha kingdom. The story tackles topics of oppression, racism, and slavery. The two sequels were Children of Virtue and Vengeance and Children of Anguish and Anarchy, which were published in 2019 and 2024, respectively.
As for the movie, Paramount revealed a Children of Blood and Bone trailer at CinemaCon. However, it's yet to be dropped online.
Children of Blood and Bone will release in theaters on January 15, 2027.
Release Date
January 15, 2027
Director
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Writers
Gina Prince-Bythewood, Tomi Adeyemi
English (US) ·