This morning, Paramount released the first trailer for Children of Blood and Bone, their buzzy adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling young adult novel.
The clip, set to a Beyoncé-infused soundtrack, showcases a star-studded ensemble—Viola Davis, Regina King, Amandla Stenberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, and Cynthia Erivo—hinting at the opulent, fictional kingdom of Orïsha where the story unfolds.
As with the source material, the footage appears to follow a female protagonist’s path. Zélie Adebola (Thuso Mbedu) emerges as a kind of chosen figure, entrusted with restoring magic to her world after a ruthless monarch murders her mother.
The novel took off with readers, earning widespread praise for its expansive scope and richly imagined pan-African setting. If the trailer’s cues are any indication, the film might ride a similar wave.
Nevertheless, author Tomi Adeyemi has been outspoken about her disapproval of this adaptation.
In an emotional TikTok posted yesterday, Adeyemi told fans that turning her book into a movie was “the worst thing [she] ever had to live through.” She has previously signaled tensions with stars and collaborators on the creative team—potentially around colorism in casting.
During the same TikTok, she rejected the idea of future collaborations and stated her intention to “never speak about the project again.”
As Vulture reported this morning, Adeyemi remains credited as a co-screenwriter on the film, alongside director Gina Prince-Bythewood. Yet in another series of Instagram posts released earlier this month, Adeyemi directed devoted fans back toward her printed works.
“From this point on, if you want to support me, you can purchase any edition of the trilogy at a local independent children’s bookstore,” she wrote.
