As summer draws to a close, the theatrical release of Children of Blood and Bone draws nearer.
The film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s YA fantasy is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and it stars quite a stacked cast of actors and characters.
For everything we know about the Children of Blood and Bone movie, read on.
When will Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Children of Blood and Bone come out?
The film will arrive in theaters January 15, 2027 as one of the first highly anticipated releases of the new year.
Who is in the cast of the Children of Blood and Bone movie?
Watch on Deadline
Thuso Mbedu, who worked with both director Prince-Bythewood and costar Viola Davis on The Woman King (2022), will star as the main character Zelie. Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give, The Acolyte) will portray Amari. Damson Idris (F1, Snowfall) will play Inan. Tosin Cole (Supacell) will portray Tzain.
Davis will portray Mama Agba. Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) will portray Admiral Kaea. Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw) will play Lekan. Lashana Lynch (Bob Marley: One Love) plays Jumoke, and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) plays King Saran. Regina King (Shirley) will appear as Queen Nehanda. Diaana Babnicova will portray Folake and Buuky Bakray will portray Binta.
Paramount Pictures
Saniyya Sidney (Fences), Zackary Momoh (Harriet), Richard Mofe-Damijo (Namaste Wahala), Ayra Starr, Pamilerin Ayodeji (Mikolo), Shamz Garuba (Crime and Justice Lagos), Kola Bodunde (Shadow) and Temi Fagbenle rounded out the cast later on. Ayodeji and Garuba were cast through an open casting call in Nigeria.
Is there a trailer for the Children of Blood and Bone movie?
Yes, a trailer was released in late July, introducing the cast and their characters as Orïsha faces a battle for its magic.
What is Children of Blood and Bone about?
The first novel in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy chronicles Zelie’s journey to restore the intrinsic magic to the land after King Saran made a move to purge it, seeing it as a threat and unnatural. Drawning on African mythology, the fantasy setting contains groups of humans that practice magic known as Maji. The Maji divine certain elements, and thus are known by the specific powers they wield, from water workers beckoning tides to those like Zelie’s mother Jumoke, who can summon souls.
Zelie and her brother team up with the son and daughter of King Saran. Prince Inan (Idris) has doubts about taking on his father’s crown and following King Saran’s example directly.
Is Tomi Adeyemi involved in the movie adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone?
Adeyemi co-wrote the screenplay with Prince-Bythewood. She has expressed that she won’t watch the film, and she posted a video on Instagram explaining her experience on set.
RELATED: ‘Children of Blood & Bone’ Author Tomi Adeyemi “Will Not Watch” Film Adaptation: “It’s Been Painful”
Paramount Pictures.
Are there more Children of Blood and Bone books? Will there be more movies?
Yes, the book gave way to a trilogy. Following Children of Blood and Bone‘s publish date in 2018, Children of Virtue and Vengeance arrived in 2019, and Children of Anguish and Anarchy arrived in 2024.
There are currently no plans to adapt the next two books in the series into films.
Does Tomi Adeyemi have other books?
Adeyemi has The Siren coming out at the end of September.
RELATED: Macmillan To Publish Tomi Adeyemi’s Next Novel ‘The Siren’ In September
