Paramount Pictures has officially announced the cast for the much-anticipated adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, confirming that the film is set for release on January 15, 2027.
The film will be directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, known for her work on The Woman King and The Old Guard.
According to Deadline magazine, the star-studded cast includes:
– Thuso Mbedu as Zélie Adebola
– Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari
– Damson Idris as Prince Inan
– Tosin Cole as Tzain Adebola
– Viola Davis as Mama Agba
– Cynthia Erivo as Admiral Kaea
– Idris Elba as Lekan
– Lashana Lynch as Jumoke
– Chiwetel Ejiofor as King Saran
– Regina King (in talks) as Queen Nehanda
South African actress who previously worked with director Gina Prince Bythewood on The Woman King shared her excitement with fans calling the opportunity a dream come true.
““Children of Blood and Bone” was gifted to me in 2019 and truly is one of the best gifts I’ve received. Upon reading it, I fell in love with it to the point that I made it a prayer point,” Thuso shared.
“…earlier this year I felt the most random need to go through old journals and there it was, a prayer point, a bold ask to God to let me be the lead of this amazing story. To sit here and draft this announcement is mind-boggling.”
In her statement, Ms Mbedu also thanked the author Tomi Adeyemi for her “gift to the world.”
“To know that I have the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people as we tell this great story is truly humbling. I’m so excited. I’m so grateful. Thank you Tomi Adeyemi for your gift to the world,” she concluded.
While the overall sentiment from fans has been positive, the reactions have sparked conversations around two recurring issues: colourism and the portrayal of African accents.
Many fans have pointed out that the casting, though celebrated, leans toward lighter-skinned actors for roles written as darker-skinned characters in the original book.
This has reignited discussions about colourism, a theme that is central to the book itself.
The Legacy of the Orisha is a fantasy trilogy set in Nigeria. The movie is named after the first book in the series, Children of Blood and Bone, in which author Tomi Adeyemi weaves a tale of oppression and resilience through the eyes of Zélie, the protagonist.
Zélie belongs to the Maji, a once-powerful group persecuted for their magical abilities and dark skin.
The book poignantly portrays Zélie’s struggles with societal prejudice and internalised biases, making the casting choices a particularly sensitive topic for fans who see these themes reflected in their own lives.
One fan said, “ A little disappointed in the Amari casting. She faced colourism and fatphobia from her mother in the book and they decided to cast a light-skinned biracial.”
Another agreed and asked why no Nigerians had been cast given the setting of the book.
Another area of concern has been the depiction of African accents. Hollywood has long been critiqued for its tendency to standardise African accents into a singular, often inauthentic, form.
Fans of Black Panther raised similar issues when the film was released, emphasising the importance of regional and cultural diversity in representing the continent.
These concerns have resurfaced in discussions about the casting of Children of Blood and Bone, as fans hope for an accurate portrayal of the rich linguistic diversity of Orïsha, the fictional world in which the story is set.
However, while sharing the news, the author Ms Adeyemi expressed excitement and said that the names of the Nigerian cast would be shared later.
“We’ll be sharing more Nigerian castings and results from the open call soon,” she said.
Despite these debates, the reception of the announcement remains largely positive. Fans are mostly excited to see Tomi Adeyemi’s work brought to life on the big screen.
If you’re looking to buy the series of books the movie will be based on they’re currently available at local bookstores in Nairobi.
*It’s important to note that the price of the book will depend largely on the store that hosts the book.
