Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, and Viola Davis are among 12 stars cast in Paramount’s long-awaited adaptation of a best-selling fantasy book. No discussion of fantasy adaptations in film is complete without mention of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, which is considered one of the greatest and most influential trilogies ever made and a touchstone for fantasy adaptations. Case in point, Jackson’s subsequent Hobbit trilogy was a financial success, but paled in comparison to his original trilogy.
Following the Lord of the Rings trilogy, several studios sought to replicate its success, leading to fantasy film franchises like The Chronicles of Narnia and Percy Jackson. More recently, television has embraced fantasy adaptations with Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Witcher, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Wheel of Time. However, many beloved fantasy books remain unadapted, such as Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive, Robin Hobb’s Farseer trilogy, and Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone.
Paramount Announces Children Of Blood & Bone’s Cast
It Includes Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Viola Davis & Many More
Paramount has announced the ensemble cast for the Children of Blood and Bone movie. Written by Tomi Adeyemi, the best-selling YA fantasy book is set in an African-inspired kingdom and follows a young woman who embarks on a quest to reclaim magic that was violently stolen from her people, joining forces with her brother and the king’s children to resist his oppressive reign. The long-awaited film adaptation is helmed by the renowned director Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King), who co-wrote the script with Adeyemi.
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Now, Paramount has announced the ensemble cast for the Children of Blood and Bone movie. Leading the fantasy adaptation are Thuso Mbedu as Zelie, Amandla Stenberg as Amari, Damson Idris as Inan, and Tosin Cole as Tzain. Also confirmed for the film are Viola Davis as Mama Agba, Cynthia Erivo as Admiral Kaea, Idris Elba as Lekan, Lashana Lynch as Jumoke, and Chiwetel Ejiofor as King Saran.
In 2018, Adeyemi said her dream casting would be Viola Davis as Mama Agba and Idris Elba as King Saran, though the latter was instead cast as Lekan.
In negotiations are Regina King for Queen Nehanda, Diaana Babnicova for Folake, and Bukky Bakray for Binta. Additional castings will be announced following an open casting call for actors residing in Nigeria. Filming is scheduled to begin in South Africa in the next few weeks. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood shared the following statement:
I am so honored and excited to bring Tomi’s Children of Blood and Bone and the vibrant world of Orisha to life. Our incredible ensemble reflects the whole of the diaspora. This is where our magic lies.
What Children Of Blood & Bone’s Cast Means For The Movie
Is This The Next Big Fantasy Adaptation?
Children of Blood and Bone was released in 2018 and followed by the sequels Children of Virtue and Vengeance in 2019 and Children of Anguish and Anarchy in 2024 – forming the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, which quickly became a modern classic, spending a total of 175 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list and selling nearly 3 million copies worldwide. In addition to being a massive bestseller, the series has also received widespread critical acclaim, with Children of Blood and Bone being named one of the best fantasy books of all time.
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Key Facts About Children of Blood and Bone |
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Author |
Tomi Adeyemi |
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Publisher |
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers |
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Publication date |
March 6, 2018 |
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Pages |
525 |
Case in point, Children of Blood and Bone comes with a massive following built into the intellectual property, and is primed to become a blockbuster film franchise. However, it has endured a long road to the big screen. Prior to its publication in 2018, Children of Blood and Bone was originally optioned for a film adaptation by Fox 2000, and in 2019, Rick Famuyiwa was announced as the director. However, after Disney acquired 21st Century Fox and shut down Fox 2000, the project was moved to Lucasfilm with Kay Oyegun brought on to write the script.
With a cast full of Oscar winners and acclaimed actors, Children of Blood and Bone is well on its way to becoming the next big fantasy franchise…
However, as the studio focused on its core franchises, such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Lucasfilm allowed the film rights to lapse. By 2022, Paramount secured the rights, with Adeyemi set to write the script, and the following year, Gina Prince-Bythewood was brought on as the film’s director. Now, with a cast full of Oscar winners and acclaimed actors, Children of Blood and Bone is well on its way to becoming the next big fantasy franchise à la Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, the latter of which Adeyemi drew inspiration from for the novels.
Our Take On Children Of Blood & Bone’s Cast
It’s Full Of Fresh Faces & Acclaimed Actors
Similar to many film franchises, such as Harry Potter, Children of Blood and Bone has opted for largely unknown actors in its lead roles, including Thuso Mbedu (who starred in The Woman King) as the heroine Zélie Adebola. Tosin Cole will play her brother Tzain. Amandla Stenberg (The Acolyte) is the most well-known actor in the lead cast, who will play Princess Amari, while Damson Idris will play her brother Prince Inan.
With a mix of fresh faces and acclaimed actors, the Children of Blood and Bone movie should strike that balance between being believable fantasy and having the gravitas and star power to attract a wide audience.
While its lead actors are mostly unknown, its supporting cast is absolutely star-studded, several of whom have been nominated for major awards. Oscar winner Viola Davis will play Zélie’s mother, two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo will play the naval commander Admiral Kaea, six-time Emmy nominee Idris Elba will play the priest Lekan, and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor will play the tyrannical King Saran. With a mix of fresh faces and acclaimed actors, the Children of Blood and Bone movie should strike that balance between being believable fantasy and having the gravitas and star power to attract a wide audience.
The Children of Blood and Bone movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 15, 2027, including in IMAX.
Source: Paramount
Children of Blood and Bone follows a young woman endowed with divine powers in a land prohibiting magic, as she allies with a princess to call upon the gods and dismantle an authoritarian regime.
- Director
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Gina Prince-Bythewood
- Producers
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Wyck Godfrey
, Karen Rosenfelt - Writers
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David Magee
, Kay Oyegun
, Tomi Adeyemi
