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Thuso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, and Tosin Cole Lead Paramount’s Film Adaptation of Children of ‘Blood and Bone’

Paramount Pictures has officially announced the star-studded cast for its highly anticipated film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone, Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling novel. Thuso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, and Tosin Cole will headline the action-fantasy epic, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, known for The Woman King and The Old Guard. The film is set to debut in IMAX on January 15, 2027.

The story unfolds in a fantastical African kingdom, where Zelie (Mbedu) embarks on a perilous journey to restore magic stolen from her people by the tyrannical King Saran. Zelie is joined by her brother Tzain (Cole) and forms a tenuous alliance with Princess Amari (Stenberg) and Prince Inan (Idris), the king’s estranged children, as they fight to overthrow his brutal rule.

The film’s ensemble cast features several powerhouse talents. Academy Award winner Viola Davis (The Woman King) will portray Mama Agba, while Grammy and Emmy winner Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) takes on the role of Admiral Kaea. Idris Elba (Luther) will appear as Lekan, Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die) as Jumoke, and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as King Saran.

In negotiations to join the cast are Regina King (Shirley) as Queen Nehanda, Diaana Babnicova (Sound of Hope) as Folake, and Bukky Bakray (Rocks) as Binta. Additionally, Paramount is conducting an open casting call in Nigeria for supporting roles, further expanding representation in this cultural epic.

Published in 2018, Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone became a literary sensation, spending 175 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and selling nearly three million copies worldwide. The book, part of the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, has garnered numerous accolades, including being named a New York Times Notable Children’s Book and a Kirkus Prize Finalist.

The project marks a pivotal milestone for Paramount. After a competitive bidding war in 2022, the studio secured the rights to the trilogy, with co-presidents Daria Cercek and Mike Ireland prioritizing its development. Adeyemi, who co-wrote the screenplay with Prince-Bythewood, credits Amandla Stenberg’s casting as Rue in The Hunger Games as the inspiration for her work.

“I’m the kind of person who gets motivated by anger,” Adeyemi told Entertainment Weekly. “I wanted to write a story so good and so unapologetically Black that everyone would have to read it.”

With a groundbreaking cast, celebrated source material, and visionary direction, Children of Blood and Bone promises to be a cinematic event that redefines fantasy storytelling.

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