Tomi Adeyemi won't watch Children of Blood and Bone film
Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone, says she has not seen and will not watch Paramount's Gina Prince-Bythewood-directed adaptation, premiering January 15, 2027. In a TikTok posted Saturday, she called the process painful and said she is officially separating her name despite co-writing the screenplay and serving as executive producer.
Key Takeaways
- Adeyemi shared screenshots on TikTok explaining her silence on the Paramount adaptation.
- She told fans she has not seen the finished film and will not watch it.
- The author is distancing herself from Amandla Stenberg, who plays Princess Amari.
- Paramount still plans a January 15, 2027 theatrical release for Prince-Bythewood's fantasy epic.
- World of Reel reported lukewarm CinemaCon footage and speculation about production turbulence.
Why is Tomi Adeyemi distancing herself from the film?
Fans had noticed that Adeyemi stopped promoting the movie even though she co-wrote the script with Prince-Bythewood and holds an executive producer credit. In a TikTok video posted Saturday, she shared screenshots of private messages to explain the gap.
"There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work. That's all," she wrote in one message. She added that she has not seen the film and will not watch it, calling it painful to hold back from readers. "I will always care about US. More than any glitter," she told supporters.
Replying to a fan comment, Adeyemi said she does not mind if audiences still see the movie. "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," she wrote. She did not publicly detail the specific disputes driving that decision.
What did Tomi Adeyemi say about Amandla Stenberg?
The TikTok also included a screenshot of a direct message Adeyemi apparently sent to Stenberg, who plays Princess Amari. "Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me," the message read. The image suggested Adeyemi had blocked the actress, known for The Hunger Games and The Hate U Give.
According to Deadline, the message was dated in late February, shortly after Stenberg responded to colorism backlash over her casting. In the book, Princess Amari is described as having dark copper skin. Deadline reported that it had reached out to Stenberg's representative for comment.
Is the Children of Blood and Bone movie in trouble?
Paramount has not altered the January 15, 2027 release date for the adaptation of Adeyemi's West African-inspired fantasy trilogy. The cast includes Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Regina King, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Viola Davis alongside Stenberg.
Reporting from World of Reel noted that footage screened at CinemaCon in April landed with a lukewarm reception. The outlet also flagged that January is often viewed as a lower-expectation release window and that the production underwent reshoots earlier in 2026, fueling speculation about the project's status.
For readers tracking how major studios translate bestselling IP into franchise tentpoles, the fallout offers a rare public split between a creator and her own adaptation. More coverage of adaptation battles and studio strategy appears in our Future Tech and AI Wonders section.
How can fans support Tomi Adeyemi now?
In her posts, Adeyemi directed supporters who want to back her work to buy any edition of the Children of Blood and Bone trilogy from independent children's bookstores. She specifically named Books of Wonder in New York City as one option.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Adeyemi's 2018 debut became a publishing phenomenon and that this marks the first time her work reaches theaters. Whether Paramount can rally audiences without its author's endorsement will be tested when the film opens in just over a year.