Paramount Pictures has set its cast for director Gina Prince-Bythewood‘s forthcoming feature adaptation of the YA novel Children of Blood and Bone.
Slated to hit theaters Jan. 15, 2027, the film stars Thuso Mbedu (The Woman King) as Zelie; Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give) as Amari; Damson Idris (Snowfall) as Inan; and Tosin Cole (Supacell) as Tzain.
Rounding out the cast are Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Additionally, Regina King, Diaana Babnicova and Bukky Bakray are in negotiations for roles.
Based on author Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 best-selling book, Children of Blood and Bone centers on an African fantasy kingdom where a young woman (Mbedu) and her brother (Cole) seek to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from their people by a vicious king (Ejiofor).
Paramount Pictures president and CEO Brian Robbins worked with the studio’s motion picture group presidents Daria Cercek and Mike Ireland to acquire the rights for the book trilogy in a bidding war.
Filming is set to begin soon in South Africa. An opening casting call seeks actors living in Nigeria for additional roles. Producers include Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment, Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment, and Matt Jackson of Jackson Pictures.
“I am so honored and excited to bring Tomi’s Children of Blood and Bone and the vibrant world of Orisha to life,” Prince-Bythewood said in a statement. “Our incredible ensemble reflects the whole of the diaspora. This is where our magic lies.”
Prince-Bythewood’s most recent movie as director was 2022’s The Woman King, which included Mbedu, Davis and Lynch among its stars.
Variety was first to report on the cast and release date.
