The first look from Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone has been unveiled, showcasing vibrant and high-fantasy attire inspired by Yoruba cosmology and the Orisa Kingdom. Adeyemi’s Film adaptation doesn’t simply replicate Yoruba traditions; it reimagines them within a fantasy framework.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film stars Thuso Mbedu as Zelie Adebola, with a cast that includes Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The production is led by Wyck Godfrey, with Tomi Adeyemi herself serving as an executive producer.
Paramount Pictures released the first look at the 2027 fantasy epic. The cast wore attire that is inseparable from their identity, with costumes representing ancestral memory, cultural pride, and resistance against oppression. These costumes embody the Yoruba tradition.
Set in the mystical kingdom of Orïsha, the story follows Zélie Adebola played by Thuso Mbedu, a young woman on a dangerous quest to restore the magic violently stripped away from her people by the Maji, a ruthless king. Along the way of her journey, she is joined by her brother Tzain, Princess Amari, and Prince Inan, who helped in an epic battle against oppression.
Children of Blood and Bone, which uses Yoruba cosmology, language, and attire to craft a world where African heritage is central to the narrative, is set to hit cinemas and IMAX on January 15, 2027.
