The first trailer for Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone is here, featuring Thuso Mbedu, Idris Elba, Richard Mofe Damijo and Viola Davis ahead of its 2027 release.
Paramount Pictures has released the first full trailer for Children of Blood and Bone, giving fans their first detailed look at the highly anticipated film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling fantasy novel.
The film stars Thuso Mbedu as Zélie Adebola and features an ensemble cast that includes Idris Elba, Viola Davis, Regina King, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, Lashana Lynch, Nollywood veteran Richard Mofe-Damijo, Tosin Cole, Zackary Momoh and Nigerian music star Ayra Starr, who makes her feature film debut.
The fantasy epic is set to premiere in theatres, including IMAX and other premium formats, on January 15, 2027.
From Bestselling Novel to the Big Screen
Children of Blood and Bone is based on Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 debut novel, the first book in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy. The novel became a New York Times bestseller and was followed by Children of Virtue and Vengeance in 2019 and Children of Anguish and Anarchy in 2024.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Adeyemi, the film is set in the fictional kingdom of Orïsha, a world inspired by Yoruba mythology and pre-colonial West Africa.
The story follows Zélie Adebola, a young woman determined to restore magic after King Saran, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, orders the brutal destruction of the maji. Together with her brother and the king’s estranged children, she embarks on a dangerous journey to bring magic back to the kingdom.
The film was produced by Paramount Pictures, Sunswept Entertainment and Temple Hill Entertainment. Filming took place in South Africa and the Canary Islands.
A Long Road to Production
The adaptation has been in development for nearly a decade. Fox 2000 Pictures acquired the rights in 2017 before the novel was published, with Rick Famuyiwa attached to direct.
Following Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox and the closure of Fox 2000, the project moved to Lucasfilm. The studio later placed the film in turnaround as it focused on its existing franchises. Paramount Pictures acquired the rights in 2022, while Prince-Bythewood officially joined the project as director in 2023.
Casting began in 2024, with Thuso Mbedu announced as Zélie. She was later joined by Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Tosin Cole, Zackary Momoh, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Regina King, Idris Elba and Viola Davis.
Cast and Online Reaction
The cast also includes Nigerian stars Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ayra Starr. While Richard Mofe-Damijo is one of Nollywood’s most celebrated The cast also includes Nigerian stars Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ayra Starr. While Richard Mofe-Damijo is one of Nollywood’s most celebrated actors, Ayra Starr makes her feature film debut with Children of Blood and Bone, marking another milestone in her growing international career.
The trailer has generated excitement for its visuals and star-studded cast, but it has also reignited debates online that have followed the adaptation since casting was announced.
Some fans questioned the accents used by some cast members, arguing that a story inspired by Yoruba culture and West Africa should feature stronger Nigerian or West African accents. Others defended the creative choice, noting that the film is set in the fictional kingdom of Orïsha rather than a real African country.
Some Nigerian fans also questioned why much of the production was filmed in South Africa instead of Nigeria, saying that filming in the country that inspired the story could have added more authenticity. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood has previously said the production chose real locations rather than relying heavily on green-screen effects.
The trailer has also revived discussions about colourism. Some readers criticised the casting of Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari, saying the character was described as having “dark copper skin” in the novel; the actor is biracial. After many fans questioned whether she was the right choice for the role, Stenberg addressed what she described as the “perception of me that I steal roles from dark-skinned women” in a now-deleted TikTok video.
She said Amari was described in the books as having lighter skin than many of the other characters and added that she had carefully considered the issue before accepting the role.
“I know that colorism is an insidious system that relentlessly impacts every facet of entertainment,” Stenberg said. She added that she would “never go after a role” she did not feel she was suited for and said a conversation with Adeyemi gave her confidence to take the part.
The renewed debate comes as Adeyemi has publicly distanced herself from the adaptation despite co-writing the screenplay and serving as an executive producer.
When Paramount acquired the rights and casting announcements began, Adeyemi regularly celebrated the adaptation on social media, describing it as a dream come true and sharing casting updates with fans. However, her position changed in recent months after what she described as painful behind-the-scenes experiences.
In a TikTok video explaining why she no longer supports the adaptation, Adeyemi said,
“I have not seen the film, and I will not watch it. It’s been painful holding this back from you all.” She also urged readers, “If you want to support me, buy the books,” saying that was the best way to support her work.
Replying to a fan in the comments, Adeyemi added:
“I do not mind anyone going to watch the film. I wrote this for us. I fought for us. I’m just laying down my sword and officially separating my name because I can’t keep being hurt and attacked behind the scenes.”
Adeyemi also revealed that she had blocked Stenberg and repeated that there was “a reason” she would not publicly support the adaptation, though she has not disclosed further details behind her decision. Paramount Pictures and director Gina Prince-Bythewood have not publicly responded to her comments.
Release Date
Paramount first released a behind-the-scenes featurette before unveiling the full trailer on July 28.
Children of Blood and Bone will be released in theatres, IMAX, Dolby Cinema and other premium large-format screens on January 15, 2027.
Despite the online debates surrounding the adaptation, Children of Blood and Bone remains one of Paramount’s most anticipated releases of 2027. With its A-list cast and the global popularity of Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha series, expectations are high as the fantasy epic prepares to arrive in cinemas next January.
