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 an official cast announcement 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.
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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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
