# Children of Blood and Bone (film)

Children of Blood and Bone is an upcoming American fantasy film directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The screenplay was written by Prince-Bythewood and Tomi Adeyemi who adapted her own novel of the same name for the screen. It stars Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Lashana Lynch, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis, and Regina King.
Children of Blood and Bone is scheduled to be released in the United States on January 15, 2027, by Paramount Pictures.

## Cast

* Thuso Mbedu as Zélie
* Tosin Cole as Tzain
* Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari
* Damson Idris as Prince Inan
* Lashana Lynch as Jumoke
* Idris Elba as Lekan
* Chiwetel Ejiofor as King Saran
* Cynthia Erivo as Admiral Kaea
* Viola Davis as Mama Agba
* Regina King as Queen Nehanda
* Diaana Babnicova as Folake
* Bukky Bakray as Binta
* Saniyya Sidney
* Zackary Momoh
* Richard Mofe-Damijo
* Ayra Starr
* Pamilerin Ayodeji
* Shamz Garuba
* Kola Bodunde
* Temi Fagbenle

## Production
### Development

Prior to publication, Tomi Adeyemi's novel Children of Blood and Bone was optioned for a film adaptation produced by Fox 2000 Pictures and Temple Hill Productions. Adeyemi had appreciated the work Fox 2000 and Temple Hill had done in producing Love, Simon and that they were the studios adapting The Hate U Give to film. In February 2019, Rick Famuyiwa was announced as the director. Adeyemi has said her dream cast would have Idris Elba in the role of Saran and Viola Davis playing Mama Agba.
However, after Disney acquired a majority of 21st Century Fox, which resulted in shuttering Fox 2000, the project was transferred to Lucasfilm, marking the studio's first original live-action project since its acquisition by Disney in 2012. Kay Oyegun was also attached to write the script for the film. In September 2019, while talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Alan Horn revealed Kathleen Kennedy was in fact working with sister studio 20th Century Fox's chairman Emma Watts in developing the film. In December 2020, Kennedy announced that Lucasfilm would co-produce the film with 20th Century Studios.
By January 2022, Paramount Pictures had acquired the rights for a guaranteed exclusive theatrical release, with Temple Hill Entertainment producing alongside Sunswept Entertainment; Adeyemi will write the script and serve as executive producer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Adeyemi had become dissatisfied with the pace of Lucasfilm's adaptation efforts and asked to serve as scriptwriter, a request that Lucasfilm had declined. Since Lucasfilm had wanted to focus on its own intellectual properties Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Willow, it and 20th Century Studios had allowed the film rights to Children of Blood and Bone to lapse in late 2021. In December 2023, Gina Prince-Bythewood was hired to direct the film and further develop the script.

### Casting

In September 2024, Thuso Mbedu was cast in the lead role. In January 2025, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Tosin Cole, Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch and Chiwetel Ejiofor were added to the cast, with Regina King, Diaana Babnicova and Bukky Bakray in negotiations to join. In March, Saniyya Sidney, Zackary Momoh, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ayra Starr, Pamilerin Ayodeji, Shamz Garuba, Kola Bodunde, and Temi Fagbenle rounded out the cast.

### Filming

In February 2025, an Instagram post by Adeyemi indicated that principal photography had begun in Lagos.

## Release

Children of Blood and Bone is scheduled to be released in the United States on January 15, 2027, including engagements in IMAX.