Tomi Adeyemi is sharing her feelings about Paramount Pictures’ forthcoming feature adaptation of her YA novel Children of Blood and Bone.
The author took to social media to address any fans of her work who may have wondered why she has not recently been promoting the film version that hits theaters Jan. 15, 2027. Adapting Adeyemi’s best-selling 2018 debut novel, director Gina Prince-Bythewood‘s movie stars Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Regina King, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Viola Davis. Adeyemi serves as executive producer and is credited for writing the screenplay with Prince-Bythewood.
In a TikTok video that she posted Saturday, Adeyemi included an screenshot of her message to unidentified recipients that read, “There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work. That’s all.”
The video also included a screenshot of an apparent message that she sent to Stenberg, who plays Princess Amari in the movie. Adeyemi’s message read, “Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me.” The image suggested that Adeyemi had blocked the actress who is known for roles in The Hunger Games and The Hate U Give.
According to the time stamp from the screenshot, the author sent her message in February 2025. This would have been around the time that Stenberg posted a video to TikTok in which she responded to colorism backlash surrounding her role and said that Adeyemi had supported her casting. That post has since been deleted.
Adeyemi’s Saturday post included another screenshot of messages to unidentified recipients, with the author writing, “Since someone asked, I have not seen the film, and I will not watch it.” She continued, “It’s been painful holding this back from you all.”
She added, “And I’m sorry if any of you thought I didn’t care. I will always care about US. More than any glitter.”
When one fan posted in the TikTok comments about feeling sad regarding her post, the author replied, “I do not mind anyone going to watch the film. I wrote this for us. I fought for us. I’m just laying down my sword and officially separating my name because I can’t keep being hurt and attacked behind the scenes.”
As the first novel in Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, Children of Blood and Bone is set in an African fantasy kingdom as a young woman (Mbedu) goes on a quest to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from her people. She and her brother (Cole) team up with the daughter and son of the king to fight back against his brutal rule.
Children of Blood and Bone was previously in development at Lucasfilm, with Paramount acquiring the property after it went into turnaround in late 2021. At that time, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Adeyemi’s request to write the script for Lucasfilm had been denied.
Prince-Bythewood accompanied castmembers Stenberg, Mbedu, Idris, Ejiofor and King at CinemaCon earlier this year to debut the first footage from Children of Blood and Bone. The Woman King director told the crowd, “I’m honored to bring this incredible best-selling fantasy book to life.”
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