Epic Romantasy ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ Hits Theaters Jan 15, 2027, With Star-Studded Cast

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As a passionate cinephile, I’d say: “In 2018, I discovered ‘Children of Blood and Bone,’ a romantic fantasy novel penned by Nigerian-American author Tomi Adeyemi – her first foray into the literary world, kickstarting the epic ‘Legacy of Orïsha’ trilogy. The narrative unfolds around Zélie Adebola, a resilient young girl on a mission to restore magic within the kingdom of Orïsha, a realm where the ruling class, the kosidáns, had cruelly eradicated the maji, my people who once harnessed magical powers.

For a span of 18 months, Adeyemi penned her novel after producing 45 different drafts. Her creative spark came from novels such as ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘An Ember in the Ashes,’ along with West African mythology and Yoruba culture. Additionally, the suffering inflicted by police violence against African-Americans served as a significant influence on her work.

The book proved to be extraordinarily popular. Upon its release, it immediately claimed the top spot on ‘The New York Times’ Young Adult Best Seller chart, drawing acclaim for its exploration of weighty themes such as oppression, racism, and slavery. Moreover, it serves as a compelling narrative about adolescents discovering their ability to instigate change.

Prior to the release of ‘Children of Blood and Bone’, the film rights were acquired by Fox 2000 Pictures and Temple Hill Productions, famed for producing films such as ‘Love, Simon’ and ‘The Hate U Give’. In 2019, Rick Famuyiwa was appointed director. Author Tomi Adeyemi had expressed her aspiration for Idris Elba to portray Saran and Viola Davis to play Mama Agba in the movie adaptation.

After Disney bought 21st Century Fox, Fox 2000 shut down, and the project moved to Lucasfilm.

By January 2022, the rights for ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ were acquired by Paramount Pictures for a theatrical production. Tomi Adeyemi is penning the script and also acting in an executive role during the production process.

It’s said that Adeyemi apparently became impatient with Lucasfilm’s sluggish advancements and requested to pen the script, yet his proposition was turned down by Lucasfilm. Given its concentration on franchises such as ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones,’ the studio allowed the film rights to lapse towards the end of 2021.

The cast eventually came to be populated by renowned actors, with Thuso Mbedu playing Zélie, Amandla Stenberg portraying Amari, and Damson Idris in the role of Inan. Significant roles also include Chiwetel Ejiofor as King Saran, Viola Davis as Mama Agba, Idris Elba as Lekan, and Lashana Lynch as Jumoke.

Or, more concisely:

The cast is comprised of well-known actors, including Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, Amandla Stenberg as Amari, Damson Idris as Inan, Chiwetel Ejiofor as King Saran, Viola Davis as Mama Agba, Idris Elba as Lekan, and Lashana Lynch as Jumoke.

The lineup additionally features Regina King (whispers of her portraying Queen Nehanda), Bukky Bakray (whispers of her role as Binta), and Cynthia Erivo in the character of Admiral Kaea.

Just announced, the film’s release date has been significantly advanced and we’re thrilled to share that it will hit theaters on January 15, 2027.

In the imagined world of Orïsha, the narrative unfolds around Zélie Adebola, a suppressed young diviner living in a time when magic was eradicated and her kin are cruelly persecuted by King Saran. When Zélie and her brother Tzain meet Princess Amari, who is escaping with a stolen magical artifact, they team up to reinstate magic in Orïsha. As Zélie’s abilities as a Reaper start to manifest, they set off on a perilous adventure to rekindle hope among their people while avoiding the merciless king.

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2025-01-24 23:44