Children of Blood and Bone movie faces fan split after author steps back
Tomi Adeyemi says she is separating from the film adaptation as fans debate casting, colorism and representation before its 2027 release.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
The Children of Blood and Bone movie is already carrying more than BookTok buzz: author Tomi Adeyemi has publicly distanced herself from the adaptation, while fans continue to argue over casting, colorism and cultural representation.
The first trailer was shown in Brooklyn this week, where director Gina Prince-Bythewood discussed research into African history and spirituality, and the cast spoke about identity, ancestry and bringing the fictional land of Orïsha to screen. The film is based on Adeyemi’s bestselling fantasy novel and is scheduled to open in theaters on Jan. 15, 2027.
Why are fans divided over the Children of Blood and Bone movie?
The split began well before the trailer. When Paramount announced the cast in 2025, many readers welcomed a largely Black ensemble that includes Thuso Mbedu, Regina King, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cynthia Erivo, Damson Idris, Lashana Lynch and Idris Elba.
A separate wave of criticism focused on Amandla Stenberg playing Princess Amari. In Adeyemi’s novel, Amari is described as having “dark copper skin” and being darker than the rest of her royal family, a detail readers have pointed to as part of the character’s outsider status.
Some fans argued that casting Stenberg, a lighter-skinned biracial actor, reduced the force of that part of Amari’s identity and fit a wider pattern of colorism in Hollywood. Others questioned why a story inspired by Nigerian history, Yoruba spirituality and pre-colonial West African cultures did not include more Nigerian actors, with debates spreading across TikTok, X and Reddit.
Stenberg previously told Yahoo Entertainment that she understood readers’ protectiveness of the books and said Adeyemi had personally encouraged her to accept the role.
What did Tomi Adeyemi say about the film?
Adeyemi changed the conversation this month when she said in a since-deleted TikTok that she was “officially separating” herself from the adaptation, according to The Guardian.
The author, who is credited as an executive producer and co-writer with Prince-Bythewood, wrote that there was a reason she would not post about the adaptation of her work. She also said she had not seen the completed film and did not plan to watch it.
Adeyemi said she had “tried everything” privately before stepping away and described the experience as painful. She told fans they could still support the movie if they wanted, while asking those who wished to support her directly to buy the books through independent bookstores.
Her posts also included screenshots of messages she allegedly sent to Stenberg, including one dated Feb. 28, 2025, telling the actor not to contact her or use her name publicly. A prior message from Stenberg was partly obscured, though the words “my only hope was to reconnect as human beings” were visible.
What happens next?
Key details remain unclear. Adeyemi has not publicly explained what led to the break, though People reported that she said she was “attacked behind the scenes.” Paramount and Prince-Bythewood have not publicly addressed her remarks.
Adeyemi also responded to a commenter under a 2025 behind-the-scenes TikTok from the South Africa set on July 18, writing: “Making an impossible dream come true is a beautiful thing. Even if the dream becomes a nightmare. No one, not this film or you, will ever take away what I achieved.”
The result is a strange runway for a major fantasy release: a praised trailer, a high-profile director, a starry cast and an author who says she wants her name separated from the film. For now, the questions around Children of Blood and Bone are arriving long before opening weekend.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.