Star-Studded Cast Announced for ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ Film Adaptation

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Paramount Pictures has unveiled the star-studded cast for its highly anticipated film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling YA novel “Children of Blood and Bone.” Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the fantasy epic is set to hit IMAX theaters on Jan. 15, 2027.

Thuso Mbedu, known for her role in “The Woman King,” will lead the cast as Zelie, a young woman fighting to restore magic to her people in the African-inspired fantasy kingdom of Orïsha. She will be joined by Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari, Damson Idris as Prince Inan, and Tosin Cole as Tzain, Zelie’s brother. The ensemble also includes Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, with Regina King, Diaana Babnicova, and Bukky Bakray in negotiations for key roles.

“I am so honored and excited to bring Tomi’s ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ and the vibrant world of Orisha to life,” Prince-Bythewood said in a statement. “Our incredible ensemble reflects the whole of the diaspora. This is where our magic lies.”

Published in 2018, Adeyemi’s novel quickly became a cultural phenomenon, spending 175 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and selling nearly three million copies worldwide. The story follows Zelie and her allies as they battle the tyrannical King Saran (Ejiofor) to reclaim their stolen magic. The book is the first in the “Legacy of Orïsha” trilogy, which also includes “Children of Virtue and Vengeance” and “Children of Anguish and Anarchy.”

Paramount acquired the rights to the trilogy in 2022 after a competitive bidding war. The studio has prioritized the project, with Prince-Bythewood announced as director in December 2023. She will co-write the screenplay with Adeyemi, ensuring the adaptation stays true to the source material.

Production is set to begin in South Africa in the coming weeks, with additional casting calls planned for actors in Nigeria. The film will be produced by Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment, Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment, and Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures. Adeyemi and Reggie Rock Bythewood will serve as executive producers.

The adaptation marks a full-circle moment for Stenberg, whose casting as Rue in “The Hunger Games” inspired Adeyemi to write the novel. “I’m the kind of person who gets motivated by anger,” Adeyemi told Entertainment Weekly. “I was like, ‘Oh man, I’m going to write a story that’s so good and so Black that everyone’s going to have to read it even if you’re racist.’ That became my writing mission.”

With its A-list cast, acclaimed source material, and visionary director, “Children of Blood and Bone” is poised to be one of the most anticipated films of 2027.