EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures’ Children of Blood and Bone, based on the NY Times bestselling novel of the same name by Tomi Adeyemi, rounds out its cast with Saniyya Sidney (Fences), Zackary Momoh (Harriet), Richard Mofe-Damijo (Namaste Wahala), Ayra Starr, Pamilerin Ayodeji (Mikolo), Shamz Garuba (Crime and Justice Lagos), Kola Bodunde (Shadow) and Temi Fagbenle. Ayodeji and Garuba were cast through an open casting call in Nigeria.
Previously announced cast includes Thuso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Tosin Cole, Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Diaana Babnicova, and Bukky Bakray. The film is dated for January 15, 2027 in IMAX.
From director Gina Prince-Bythewood, who co-wrote the script with Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone, is set in an African fantasy kingdom where a young woman goes on a quest to reclaim the magic violently stolen from her people. She and her brother ally with the daughter and son of the king to fight back against his brutal rule.
Clockwise Top L-R: Ayra Starr, Kola Bodunde, Pamilerin Ayodeji, Richard Mofe Damijo, Saniyya Sidney, Shamz Garuba, and Temi Fagbenle
Mikey Oshai/Ryan Price/gaestheticsvisuals/David Adeleke/Shandon Youngclaus/Chuchu Ojekwe/Courtesy
The book series has become an instant classic, with Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha trilogy spending a combined 175 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list, including four weeks at no.1 on the Young Adult Hardcover list for Children of Blood and Bone, five weeks at no. 1 on the Young Adult Hardcover list for Children of Virtue and Vengeance, and one week at no. 1 on the Children’s & Young Adult Series list for Children of Anguish and Anarchy.
In total, the series has sold almost three million copies worldwide and garnered critical acclaim, with Children of Blood and Bone being featured as one of the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book, and a Kirkus Prize Finalist, among other distinctions.
Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment, together with Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment – the filmmaking team behind the Twilight series – will produce, alongside Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures. Adeyemi, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Jeff Waxman and Jennifer Madeloff will executive produce.
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Momoh is repped by John Meigs, The Artist Partnership, Entertainment 360; Sidney is repped by CAA, Transcend MGT, Ziffren Brittenham; Damijo is repped by Jennifer Okafor-Iwuchukwu; Starr is repped by CAA and Mavin Records/Republic Records; Bodunde is repped by Rogue Management.
