Paramount Pictures has released the official trailer for Children of Blood and Bone, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s screen adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 fantasy novel. The trailer introduces the kingdom of Orïsha, where Zélie Adebola begins a quest to restore the magic that King Saran violently took from her people. Paramount will bring the film to theaters and IMAX on January 15, 2027.
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The story follows Zélie and her brother Tzain as they join Princess Amari and Prince Inan, the daughter and son of the king. Together, they challenge Saran’s brutal rule and face the forces that support his campaign against magic. Adeyemi’s novel launched the Legacy of Orïsha series and drew inspiration from West African mythology.
Thuso Mbedu leads the film as Zélie, with Tosin Cole as Tzain, Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari and Damson Idris as Prince Inan. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays King Saran, while Regina King takes the part of Queen Nehanda. Viola Davis appears as Mama Agba, Idris Elba plays Lekan, Cynthia Erivo plays Admiral Kaea and Lashana Lynch joins as Jumoke.
The cast also includes Zackary Momoh, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Saniyya Sidney, Diaana Babnicova, Bukky Bakray, Ayra Starr, Shamz Garuba, Kola Bodunde, Pamilerin Afolake Ayodeji and Tèmítópé Fágbénlé. The trailer gives several members of the ensemble prominent moments while establishing the scale of the conflict in Orïsha.
Prince-Bythewood directs the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Adeyemi. In a July 2026 interview, the director said Adeyemi wrote the first draft before Prince-Bythewood joined the project and developed her own version. Prince-Bythewood also said Adeyemi responded positively to that draft during their earlier collaboration.
Adeyemi has since separated herself from the finished adaptation. In July 2026, she said she had not seen the film and would not watch it. She described painful experiences behind the scenes and said she wanted to separate her name from the production.
The author told readers they could still watch the film and encouraged supporters to purchase the book trilogy through independent bookstores. Her comments create a significant divide between her earlier screenwriting involvement and her current relationship with the adaptation.
The trailer focuses on Zélie’s fight to reclaim magic, her alliance with the royal siblings and the threat posed by Saran’s rule. It introduces battle sequences, fire, creatures and large settings as Prince-Bythewood presents Orïsha on screen. The footage also gives the main cast their first extended introduction before the theatrical release.
Children of Blood and Bone will arrive exclusively in theaters and IMAX on January 15, 2027.
