'Children Of Blood And Bone' Adds New Famous Names To The Cast List

TV & Film

Jan 29

Children of Blood and Bone was the best-selling YA novel of 2018. The fantasy series by Tomi Adeyemi is one of several hot properties being converted to live-action. Paramount Pictures bought it and signed Secret Life of Bees director Prince-Bythewood to direct it.

Paramount has demonstrated its faith in the coming-of-age story by pulling together a cast straight from the fan’s wishlists, and it’s loaded with A-listers. Thuso Mbedu (The Woman King) will star as Zélie, with British actor Tosin Cole (Doctor Who, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens) playing her brother. Violia Davis (The Help), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Idris Elba (Luther), Lashana Lynch (Matilda: The Musical), and Amandla Stenberg (The Acolyte) are all on the roster. Villian, King Saran will be portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor who famously received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Solomon Northup in 12 Years A Slave.

Children of Blood and Bone is the first installment in the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy. There’s no word as yet on whether this adaption intends to just draw from the first book or meld the three novels into one. Hopefully, there will be more movies to come. The books are set in alternate pre-colonial Nigeria, where the main characters attempt to free magic from an oppressive regime. There are nods to West African mythology and the Yoruba culture, as well as classic fantasy such as Harry Potter, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and The Hunger Games.

Children of Blood and Bone is due for release in Jan 2027.

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