[REVISION HISTORY]

Adeyemi distances from Children of Blood & Bone film

Updated 11 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-30 04:47 UTC → 2026-07-30 12:00 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In early July 2026, bestselling author Tomi Adeyemi announced on TikTok that she would neither watch nor promote Paramount Pictures’ live‑action adaptation of her 2018 novel *Children of Blood and Bone*. Citing behind‑the‑scenes hurt and attacks, she asked lead actress Amandla Stenberg not to use her name and shifted focus to her readers and the forthcoming novel *The Siren*. Paramount’s ~~marketing~~ rollout ~~continued. At~~ continued with a star‑studded African‑focused ensemble revealed at CinemaCon on 16 July the studio revealed a star‑studded African‑focused ensemble—including Thuso Mbedu, Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lashana Lynch, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Tosin Cole and others—and confirmed practical effects shot in Africa. The film, directed by Oscar‑winner Gina Prince‑Bythewood and co‑screenwritten by Adeyemi, is slated for worldwide release on 15 January 2027, with an IMAX option. The official a trailer ~~debuted on 27 July~~ launch at New York’s Brooklyn Academy of ~~Music, featuring~~ Music on 27 July. The event featured a cast Q&A curated by Lena Waithe, an after‑party serving traditional Nigerian food, and a DJ preview of the soundtrack executive‑produced by ~~Nigerian Afrobeats star~~ Tems with ~~consulting by~~ Burna Boy, set to Beyoncé’s “Energy (feat. Beam)”. The event’s Q&A, moderated by Lena Waithe, highlighted production designer Hannah Beachler, costume designer Charlese Antoinette Jones and hair designer Andrea Mona Bowman. Nigerian singer‑actress Ayra Starr made her Hollywood acting debut, while Ghanaian dancer‑choreographer Endurance Grand appeared in Boy consulting. Adeyemi used the ~~first teaser. Adeyemi’s later TikTok videos described~~ occasion to publicly denounce the ~~adaptation~~ film, describing it as “the worst thing I have ever ~~lived~~ had to live through,” recounting that she left the set ~~“hyperventilating~~ hyperventilating and ~~sobbing”~~ sobbing and now suffers panic attacks and somatic pain that prevent her from watching the ~~film. She~~ finished movie. Directed by Oscar‑winner Gina Prince‑Bythewood, who also ~~said she continues to be antagonized behind~~ co‑wrote the ~~scenes and will not promote or discuss~~ script, the ~~project further, though she~~ film stars Thuso Mbedu, Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lashana Lynch, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Tosin Cole and others. It is slated for worldwide release on 15 January 2027, with an IMAX option, while Adeyemi retains credit as co‑writer and executive ~~producer. Despite the promotional push and a high‑profile after‑party serving traditional Nigerian food, the~~ producer but says she will not promote it further. The project continues to face an online hate campaign targeting a lead star.

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