Thusso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg Star

Soso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris and Tosin Cole take on the lead roles in the highly anticipated film adaptation of “Children of Blood and Bone”. Gina Prince-Bythewood is directing the fantasy action film, based on the bestselling novel by Tomi Adeyemi, for Paramount Pictures.

The studio has also dated the film’s release to January 15, 2027 in Imax.

Mbedu, who previously starred in Prince-Bythewood’s historical epic “The Woman King,” will play Zelie, a young woman living in a fantasy African kingdom who embarks on a quest to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from her people by the merciless king. Saran. The story follows Zelie and her older brother Tzain (Cole) as they form an alliance with the king’s daughter, Princess Amari (Stenberg) and his son, Prince Inan (Idris) to fight against his brutal rule.

Published in 2018, Adeyemi’s “Children of Blood and Bone” became a smash hit, with the novel and its two sequels, “Children of Virtue and Vengeance” and “Children of Anguish and of Anarchy” (collectively known as “The Legacy of Orïsha). ” trilogy) spending a total of 175 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. In total, the series has sold nearly three million copies worldwide and received critical acclaim, ” Children of Blood and Bone” listed among the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time; a New York Times Notable Children’s Book and a Kirkus Prize finalist, among other honors.

Plus, with Stenberg’s casting, Adeyemi comes full circle: In interviews promoting the debut novel, the young author explained that “The Hunger Games” — and particularly the negative reactions to Stenberg’s casting as Rue and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna in the 2012 film — inspired her to start writing about the black experience.

“I’m the type of person who’s driven by anger, so I was like, ‘Oh man, I’m going to write a story that’s so good and so good that everyone will have to read it, even though you’re so good. ‘ racist,'” Adeyemi told EW. “It became my writing mission.”

In 2022, Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Group co-chairmen Daria Cercek and Mike Ireland acquired the rights to the “Legacy of Orïsha” trilogy in a highly competitive bidding war. Since then, the project has become a top priority for studio executives, including co-CEO Brian Robbins. In December 2023, it was announced that Prince-Bythewood would direct “Children of Blood and Bone” and co-write the screenplay with Adeyemi, with casting being the crucial next step.

In addition to talents Mbedu, Stenberg (“The Hate U Give,” “Bodies Bodies Bodies”), Idris (“Snowfall,” “F1”) and Cole (“Supacell”), the film will feature an incomparable cast including Viola Oscar winner Davis (“The Woman King,” “G20”) as Mama Agba; Grammy and Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked”) as Admiral Kaea; SAG Award winner Idris Elba (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”) as Lekan; BAFTA winner Lashana Lynch (“Bob Marley: One Love,” “Day of the Jackal”) as Jumoke; and Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”) as King Saran.

Negotiations to join the cast include Oscar winner Regina King (“Shirley”) as Queen Nehanda; Diaana Babnicova (“Sound of Hope: The Possum Trot Story”) as Folake; and Bukky Bakray (“Rocks”) as Binta. Additional castings will also be planned through an open casting call for actors living in Nigeria.

With this impressive ensemble almost assembled, production of “Children of Blood and Bone” is set to begin in South Africa in the coming weeks.

Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment, as well as Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment – ​​the directing team behind the “Twilight” series – will produce the film alongside Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures. Adeyemi and Reggie Rock Bythewood will executive produce.

Stenberg is repped by Entertainment 360, UTA, imPRint and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lescano Bobb & Dang; Idris is represented by CAA, M88 and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox; and Cole is represented by CAA, Curtis Brown, Ed Smith and Tapestry.

Davis is represented by CAA and the Lasher Group; Erivo is represented by UTA, Entertainment 360, Peikoff Mahan and The Lede Company; and Elba is represented by The Artists Partnership, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole and The Lede Company.

King is repped by CAA, John Carrabino Management, Ascend Artist Representation and Gang, Tyre, Ramer; Babnicova is repped by Gersh, ColorCreative, Sylvia Young Agency in the UK and attorney Derek Kroeger; and Bakray is repped by Entertainment 360, Independent Talent Group, Granderson Des Rochers