Children of Blood and Bone Movie: Cast, Director, Release Date, & Everything You Need to Know
RICH DEAS/MACMILLAN
The movie adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi's debut YA novel, Children of Blood and Bone, is officially on the horizon. After being years in the making, it looks like the literary phenomenon is finally shaping up to go from paper to screen, with castings now underway 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, or use the arrows below to jump to your preferred section.
→ Plot
→ Announcement
→ Director
→ Cast
→ Release date
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.
Children of Blood and Bone Film Adaptation: Cast, Director, Release Date, & Everything You Need to Know
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.
Related: Children of Blood and Bone Author Tomi Adeyemi on Creating a World Where Readers of Color Can See Themselves
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.”
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, 1)
$15.00, Amazon
Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha, 2)
$15.00, Amazon
Children of Anguish and Anarchy (Legacy of Orïsha, 3)
$25.00, Amazon
↑BACK TO TOP LIST↑BACK TO TOP LIST
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.
↑BACK TO TOP LIST↑BACK TO TOP LIST
Who will direct 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.
Children of Blood and Bone Film Adaptation: Cast, Director, Release Date, & Everything You Need to Know
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.”
↑BACK TO TOP LIST↑BACK TO TOP LIST
Who's in the cast of Children of Blood and Bone?
Seeing as the Children of Blood and Bone movie is still in pre-production, no casting announcements have been made so far. However, that could change really soon. As reported by local Nigerian publication Pulse, casting for the movie officially began in July, so the production is now officially actively looking for its Zélie. Castings being underway means the long-anticipated adaption is one step closer to fruition. According to IMDB, filming will take place in Lagos, Nigeria.
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 Agbain 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.
↑BACK TO TOP LIST↑BACK TO TOP LIST
When will the Children of Blood and Bone movie be released?
At the time of writing, no tentative release date for the Children of Blood and Bone movie has been set. However, according to a report by Deadline, the film will have a guaranteed theatrical release instead of streaming.
↑BACK TO TOP LIST↑BACK TO TOP LIST
This post will be updated as news about the Children of Blood and Bone movie breaks.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
Want more great Culture stories from Teen Vogue? Check these out:
A New Generation of Pretty Little Liars Takes on the Horrors of Being a Teenage Girl
Underneath Chappell Roan’s Hannah Montana Wig? A Pop Star for the Ages
Donald Glover’s Swarm Is Another Piece of Fandom Media That Dehumanizes Black Women
On Velma, Mindy Kaling, and Whether Brown Girls Can Ever Like Ourselves on TV
Gaten Matarazzo Talks Spoilers, Dustin Henderson, and Growing Up on Stranger Things
How K-pop Stars Are Leading Mental Health Conversations for AAPI People and Beyond
Meet the Collective of Philly TikTokers Making You Shake Your Hips
The Midnight Club Star Ruth Codd Isn’t Defined By Her Disability
