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Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film adaptation of the popular YA book arrives in theaters Jan. 15.
Key Points
- Children of Blood and Bone filmmakers have released the first photos of their star-studded action movie.
- Director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s project is an adaptation of the popular YA novel of the same name.
- Images depict Regina King, Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis, and more wearing bold ensembles amid sweeping scenery.
The Children of Blood and Bone movie promises to be stunning.
First-look photos released Thursday show the all-star cast, which includes Regina King, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Amandla Stenberg, outfitted in vibrant costumes amid lush scenery. King’s Queen Nehanda and Ejiofor’s King Saran sit atop thrones, while Erivo, as Admiral Kaea, instructs her troops.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the adaptation of author Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 novel is set in the mythical African kingdom of Orïsha. The story centers on Zélie (The Woman King’s Thuso Mbedu), who’s part of the maji, people who used their special powers until the king tried to end magic. After Zélie finds that she can bring it back and end the mistreatment of her fellow maji, she attempts a rebellion.
Take a peek at the photos:
Adeyemi told Entertainment Weekly in 2018 that she was inspired by fantasy tales about Harry Potter and others she read while growing up.
“Every story I wrote [when I was younger], the protagonists were white or biracial because, somewhere along the line, I’d come to believe Black people couldn’t be in stories. I was writing these magical adventures that I wanted to have, but I didn’t think I could have those adventures and look like myself.”
So her goal became to “write a story that’s so good and so Black that everyone’s going to have to read it — even if they’re racist.”
The book Children of Blood and Bone was, of course, a smashing success, so much so that two sequels followed: Children of Virtue and Vengeance (2019) and Children of Anguish and Anarchy (2024). Combined, the Legacy of Orïsha trilogy was on the New York Times Best Seller list for 175 weeks.
But the author won’t be seeing the adaptation, she revealed earlier this month.
“Since someone asked, I have not seen the film,” she wrote to a fan in a screenshot posted on social media, “and I will not watch it.”
Adeyemi added, “It’s been painful holding this back from you all. And I’m sorry if any of you thought I didn’t care. I will always care about US. More than any glitter.”
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She also shared video of an apparent message that she sent to Stenberg, one of the stars of the film. It appeared to show Stenberg saying that she wanted to “reconnect as human beings.”
Adeyemi was not receptive: “Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me.”
Children of Blood and Bone arrives in theaters Jan. 15.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
