'The Acolyte' Star's New Fantasy Adaptation Officially Takes Over NYCC With Rian Johnson [Exclusive]

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Published Oct 5, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT

In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, video gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate and detail-oriented writer and journalist at Collider.com. In addition to his work as a Senior Resource Writer, Aidan has also contributed to Collider's features and news reporting sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con and the D23 Expo, and has had the privelege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more. This sincere love for the art of storytelling began at a young age, with Aidan making video movie reviews for the news program at his local high school. That love only increased over the years, with an ongoing career in independent filmmaking and screenwriting after graduating with a degree in Film and television from DePaul University.

Fantasy novel fans have been enjoying a good couple of years, and it's only just beginning. The Lord of the Rings universe made a big comeback with Prime Video's The Rings of Power (which has a third season on the horizon, not to mention Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis' return to the franchise with The Hunt for Gollum), Percy Jackson and the Olympians fans finally got the adaptation they've been waiting for, and Harry Potter is set for a full reboot thanks to HBO Max. But those are all the heavy hitters that everyone already knows and loves, and perhaps it's time for a beloved fantasy novel to get its time to shine.

At long last, Children of Blood and Bone will officially hit the big screen in early 2027 after years in development hell. Finally, fans will get to see Zélie Adebola (Thuso Mbedu) and her story on the biggest screen possible, and with one of the biggest casts of 2027 that includes Viola Davis, Idris Elba, and many, many more. Marketing for the movie kicked off earlier this year with the first official trailer, but now, Paramount is taking an even bigger step to get fans to hit theaters this January.

Paramount is officially bringing Children of Blood and Bone to New York Comic Con this weekend on October 10, 2026, with a massive lineup of the film's stars confirmed to be in attendance. The list includes Amandla Stenberg (The Acolyte), Thuso Mbedu (Mufasa: The Lion King), Damson Idris (F1: The Movie), Tosin Cole, Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Lashana Lynch (No Time To Die), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Backrooms), and writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), but that's not all. Collider can exclusively reveal that the upcoming NYCC panel will be moderated by none other than Rian Johnson, the mastermind of the Knives Out trilogy and the filmmaker behind Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi.

Collider Exclusive · The Sorting Hat Awaits Which Hogwarts House Are You? Gryffindor · Slytherin · Hufflepuff · Ravenclaw

Four houses. One destiny. The Sorting Hat has considered thousands of students — now it's your turn. Answer honestly and discover where you truly belong at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

🦁Gryffindor

🐍Slytherin

🦡Hufflepuff

🦅Ravenclaw

PLACE THE HAT →

What quality do you value most in yourself? Answer as honestly as you can — the Hat always knows.

ACourage — I act even when I'm afraid, because what's right matters more than what's safe. BAmbition — I know what I want and I have the drive and cunning to get there. CLoyalty — I show up for the people I love, no matter what it costs me. DWisdom — I think before I act and I'm always hungry to understand more.

NEXT QUESTION →

A friend is being treated unfairly. What do you do? How you protect others says everything about who you are.

AStep in immediately and confront whoever is responsible — I won't stand by. BWork out the best strategy to address it — a smart move beats a rash one. CBe by their side, support them, and help them through it however they need. DAnalyse what's actually happening and find the most reasoned, fair solution.

NEXT QUESTION →

What does success look like to you? What you're working toward defines who you're becoming.

ABeing remembered as someone who fought for what was right, whatever the odds. BAchieving the goals I set for myself — influence, status, and earned respect. CA life where the people I care about know I was there for them, always. DMastering my field, contributing something meaningful, and never stopping learning.

NEXT QUESTION →

What is your greatest fear? Fear is the most honest thing about a person.

ABeing a coward when it mattered — looking back and knowing I did nothing. BMediocrity — fading into obscurity without making my mark on the world. CLosing the people I love or letting them down when they needed me most. DIgnorance — being wrong and not knowing it, or never reaching my potential.

NEXT QUESTION →

The rules say no. Your gut says go. What do you do? Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.

ABreak the rules — if it's the right thing to do, no rule should stop me. BFind a way to get what I want without getting caught. Rules are guidelines. CProbably follow the rules — but I'd find a way to help within them if I could. DThink it through carefully — is the rule unjust, or is my gut just impatient?

NEXT QUESTION →

What kind of friend are you? Who you are to the people you love is who you really are.

AThe protector — I will go to the ends of the earth for the people I care about. BThe strategist — I give sharp advice and I'm the one who figures out how to fix things. CThe constant — I'm always there, always reliable, and I never make it about me. DThe guide — I help people think things through and see perspectives they've missed.

NEXT QUESTION →

You look into the Mirror of Erised. What do you see? The mirror shows the deepest desire of your heart.

AYourself standing victorious, having faced the greatest challenge and won. BYourself at the height of your power — respected, successful, and in control. CYourself surrounded by everyone you love, whole and happy and together. DYourself with all the answers — every book read, every mystery solved.

NEXT QUESTION →

The Sorting Hat pauses. It whispers: "You could do well in any house. But what matters most to you — truly?" This is your tiebreaker. The Hat always listens.

ABravery. I want to be the kind of person who acts when others won't. BGreatness. I want to leave my mark and be more than ordinary. CBelonging. I want to be part of something good and never let my people down. DUnderstanding. I want to know the truth of things and keep growing forever.

REVEAL MY HOUSE →

The Sorting Hat Speaks Your House Has Been Chosen

After careful deliberation, the Sorting Hat has made its decision. This is the house your values, your instincts, and your particular way of being in the world were made for.

🦁 Gryffindor

You have nerve. Not the reckless kind, but the deep, quiet courage that shows up even when you're terrified — especially then.

Gryffindors don't act because they're fearless — they act because they understand that some things are worth being afraid for.
You stand up for people when it would be easier to look away.
You charge toward what's right even when the odds are terrible.
Harry, Hermione, Ron — the heroes of Hogwarts's greatest chapter — all called the tower with the scarlet and gold home. And now, so do you.

🐍 Slytherin

You are driven, sharp, and utterly clear-eyed about what you want and how to get there.

Slytherin has long been misunderstood — painted as the house of villains when it is, at its best, the house of those who refuse to accept limits placed on them by others.
You are resourceful, strategic, and you play the long game.
You know your worth. You protect your own fiercely.
The dungeon common room with its view of the Black Lake is yours — and the ambitions that will take you further than anyone expects are yours too.

🦡 Hufflepuff

You are the kind of person that makes the world genuinely better just by being in it.

Hufflepuff is not the "safe" house or the "leftover" house — it is the house of those with the greatest heart and the most unwavering integrity.
You show up. You work hard. You don't need glory or recognition — you do what's right because it's right.
Your loyalty never wavers, even when tested.
Nymphadora Tonks, Cedric Diggory, Newt Scamander — some of the wizarding world's finest. And now you join them.

🦅 Ravenclaw

Your mind is your greatest gift, and you've always known it.

Ravenclaws are the thinkers, the questioners, the ones who find a puzzle irresistible and a good book better company than most people.
Ravenclaw is not merely about intelligence — it's about the love of learning, the pursuit of truth, and the rare courage to admit you don't know something yet.
You see the world with unusual clarity and depth.
Luna Lovegood, Filius Flitwick, Rowena Ravenclaw herself — all extraordinary, all original. And so are you.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

What Is 'Children of Blood and Bone' About?

Taking place in the fictional African region of Orïsha, Children of Blood and Bone tells the fantastical story of Zélie, a young woman who once flourished in the magical world. That all changed when Orïsha's magic disappeared in an instant, giving an evil king the opportunity to rise amid the chaos. With the world now one filled with corruption and power, Zélie embarks on a perilous quest to bring magic back to Orïsha once and for all.

Children of Blood and Bone's NYCC panel will take place on Saturday, October 10 at 8:15 PM ET. The film premieres in theaters on January 14, 2027. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.