What Happened to Children of Blood and Bone Movie Adaptation?
The highly anticipated movie adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi's bestselling novel, "Children of Blood and Bone," has experienced a tumultuous development, shifting studios from Fox 2000 to Disney/Lucasfilm and finally to Paramount Pictures. Despite a star-studded cast and a January 2027 release date, author Tomi Adeyemi publicly disowned the film in July 2026, citing painful behind-the-scenes issues and stating she will not watch or promote it.
Quick Answer
The movie adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi's "Children of Blood and Bone" is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 15, 2027, by Paramount Pictures. However, as of July 2026, author Tomi Adeyemi has publicly distanced herself from the project, stating she has not seen the film, will not watch it, and will not promote it due to undisclosed "painful" experiences behind the scenes. This comes after years of development hell and a change of studios, with Gina Prince-Bythewood directing and a cast including Amandla Stenberg, Viola Davis, and Idris Elba.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Film Rights Acquired by Fox 2000
Before its publication, Tomi Adeyemi's debut novel, "Children of Blood and Bone," had its film adaptation rights purchased by Fox 2000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment.
Children of Blood and Bone Published
Tomi Adeyemi's novel "Children of Blood and Bone" is released and quickly becomes a New York Times Young Adult Hardcover Bestseller.
Rick Famuyiwa Attached to Direct
Rick Famuyiwa was announced as the director for the Fox 2000 adaptation.
Project Moves to Lucasfilm/Disney
Following The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 21st Century Fox, the project was transferred to Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios.
Kay Oyegun Hired as Screenwriter
Kay Oyegun was announced to write the script for the Lucasfilm version of the adaptation.
Lucasfilm Rights Lapse
Lucasfilm allowed the film rights to "Children of Blood and Bone" to lapse, reportedly due to Adeyemi's frustration with the pace and Lucasfilm's focus on existing IP.
Paramount Pictures Acquires Rights
Paramount Pictures won a competitive bidding war to acquire the film rights, guaranteeing an exclusive theatrical release and significant creative control for Tomi Adeyemi.
Gina Prince-Bythewood Hired as Director
Gina Prince-Bythewood, acclaimed director of "The Woman King," was announced as the director for Paramount's adaptation and co-wrote the screenplay with Adeyemi.
Thuso Mbedu Cast in Lead Role
Thuso Mbedu was cast in the lead role, with other major cast members like Amandla Stenberg, Viola Davis, and Idris Elba announced around this time.
Filming Begins & Colorism Controversy
Principal photography began in Lagos. Around this time, Amandla Stenberg addressed online backlash regarding colorism in casting, claiming Adeyemi supported her role.
Filming Wraps
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood announced that principal photography for the film had wrapped after 74 days of shooting across two countries and two islands.
CinemaCon Footage Screened
An action-packed trailer for "Children of Blood and Bone" was screened at CinemaCon, though reports suggested it "landed with a thud."
Tomi Adeyemi Publicly Disowns Adaptation
Tomi Adeyemi posted on TikTok and Instagram, publicly distancing herself from the film, stating she will not watch or promote it due to "painful" behind-the-scenes issues and revealing she blocked star Amandla Stenberg.
Scheduled Theatrical Release
The "Children of Blood and Bone" movie is currently scheduled for a theatrical IMAX release by Paramount Pictures.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The journey to bring Tomi Adeyemi's acclaimed young adult fantasy novel, "Children of Blood and Bone," to the big screen has been protracted and fraught with challenges. The film rights were initially acquired by Fox 2000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment in March 2017, even before the book's publication. Rick Famuyiwa was announced as the director in February 2019.
Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in March 2019, the project was transferred to Lucasfilm, marking a rare foray into original live-action content for the studio. Kay Oyegun was brought on to write the script in August 2019. However, Adeyemi reportedly grew frustrated with Lucasfilm's slow progress and their refusal of her request to serve as a scriptwriter. Consequently, Lucasfilm allowed the film rights to lapse in late 2021, opting to focus on its existing intellectual properties like Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
In January 2022, Paramount Pictures secured the rights in a highly competitive bidding war, guaranteeing an exclusive theatrical release and offering Adeyemi a seven-figure screenwriting deal and creative approval, along with an executive producer credit. Gina Prince-Bythewood, known for "The Woman King," was hired to direct in December 2023, and she co-wrote the screenplay with Adeyemi. Filming commenced in February 2025 and wrapped in June 2025. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Thuso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Lashana Lynch, Idris Elba, and Viola Davis.
However, the adaptation faced early controversy regarding colorism in its casting choices, particularly concerning Amandla Stenberg and Thuso Mbedu, who are lighter-skinned than the characters described in the novel. Stenberg addressed these accusations in a February 2025 TikTok video, claiming Adeyemi supported her casting, though this video has since been deleted.
The most significant recent development occurred in early July 2026, when Tomi Adeyemi publicly disowned the upcoming film via social media posts on TikTok and Instagram. She stated, "There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work. That's all." Adeyemi further revealed, "I have not seen the film, and I will not watch it. It's been painful holding this back from you all." She also shared a screenshot of a message to Amandla Stenberg from February 2025, instructing the actress not to use her name in interviews or contact her. While not elaborating on the specifics of the "painful" falling out, Adeyemi indicated she was "hurt and attacked behind the scenes." Despite her disassociation, the film is still slated for a theatrical IMAX release on January 15, 2027.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Children of Blood and Bone Movie Adaptation made different choices?