Tomi Adeyemi’sLegacy of Orïshafantasy series is finally getting the screen adaptation fans have been waiting for with Paramount’s upcoming movie,Children of Blood and Bone. Since the titular book was released in 2018, fantasy lovers and readers of all kinds have been swept away by Adeyemi’s compelling tale that follows Zélie Adebola and her quest to bring magic back to her people.Adeyemi was influenced by West African folklore to craft the world of the storyand strikes a successful balance of interrogative explorations of discrimination and racism with classic coming-of-age themes.
Recently, theChildren of Blood and Bonemovie castwas made public, and this has only increased interest and excitement surrounding the project. Fantasy has increased in popularity on television, butit’s been a long time since audiences and critics were clamoring to see a classic YA adventure at the movies.Children of Blood and Boneis coming at the perfect time and might be the fantasy story people need. The relevant social and cultural themes and Zélie’s strength as a protagonist are only a few reasons to follow the progress of theChildren of Blood and Bonefilm.
8The Cast Of Children Of Blood & Bone Is Fantastic
The ensemble the creative team has assembled is packed with star power
While the story will be the heart and soul of any adaptation ofChildren of Blood and Bone, the actors who bring the unforgettable characters to life are a key piece of the movie’s future success. So far, the cast of the film is filled with some of the best actors of their generations, tapping veterans with strong name recognition and newcomers earlier in their careers.Thuso Mbedu will lead the cast as Zélie,with Amandla Stenberg and Tosin Cole joining her as Amari and Tzain, the central trio of the narrative.
Paramount’s Upcoming Fantasy Movie Adaptation Has Such An Amazing Cast, I Don’t Know How It Can Fail
The actors who have been tapped to star in the screen adaptation of Children of Blood & Bone make me think that this fantasy movie will succeed.
While the chemistry between the cast as a whole is a vital part of the project,the dynamic between Mbedu and Damson Idris, who will play Zélie’s love interest and sometimes enemy, Inan, is critical.Though the romance angle ofChildren of Blood and Boneis slow-burn, it’s still an appealing facet of the story. Additionally, seeing Mbedu interact with iconic performers like Viola Davis, Idris Elba, and Cynthia Erivo will be a big draw for audiences.
7Tomi Adeyemi’s Story Is Timely & Universal
The author does an amazing job crafting a story everyone can see themselves in
ThoughChildren of Blood and Boneis a fantasy story that takes place in a different magical reality, that doesn’t mean the reader can’t see themselves in the story and relate to Zélie’s experiences.The purpose of fantasy is to take universal themes and contemporary social and cultural issues and transform theminto a fantastical narrative that demonstrates how brave individuals can combat these issues. As the series progresses, Adeyemi delves into the violent and critical parts of history but does so in a way that the reader can easily understand.
From the larger political messages to Zélie’s relatable experience coming of age, there’s something for everyone inChildren of Blood and Bone.
Part of the reason that the YA dystopian genre became so prevalent in the 2010s and why fantasy and sci-fi are such popular genres is because they speak to the contemporary mindset.Children of Blood and Bonefulfills the same niche, as even though the first book was published in 2018, it’s only become more relevant. From the larger political messages to Zélie’s relatable experience coming of age, there’s something for everyone inChildren of Blood and Bone.
6Children Of Blood & Bone Has Similarities To The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games could be a solid blueprint for Children of Blood and Bone
LikeThe Hunger Games,Children of Blood and Boneis agreat fantasy series with a strong female main characterand directly interacts with themes of fascism and discrimination.The Hunger Gameshas consistently been an enormous draw at the box office and has impressed criticswith its complex and interrogative story. ThoughChildren of Blood and Bonehas many differences fromThe Hunger Games, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if the upcoming series followedThe Hunger Games' trajectory.
Using the similarities between the stories and the central role of a well-written female protagonist will automatically generate interest in audiences who might not be familiar withChildren of Blood and Bonebut have certainly heard ofThe Hunger Games. So far, theLegacy of Orïshabooks have received just as much praise from readers and reviewers, meaningChildren of Blood and Boneis already entering theaters with name recognition similar toThe Hunger Games.
5There’s A Hole In The Niche Of YA Fantasy Stories Onscreen
The heyday of YA cinema might have passed, but it’s due for a resurgence
The 2010s are considered the peak years for YA movies,as big franchises likeThe Hunger Games,Divergent, andThe Maze Runnercome out during this period. While there were some failures within the genre, likeThe GiverorThe Mortal Instruments, this didn’t change the fact that many YA books were being optioned for adaptation and making their way to the big screen. However, in recent years, stories like this haven’t found as much success, as seen through the recent negative reception ofUglies.
Children of Blood and Bonehas the opportunity to be the next big YA franchise and fill the vacuum that’s been open since the 2010s.
Though the decline in popularity of YA movies might seem like a mark againstChildren of Blood and Bone, there’s reason to believe it could be a good thing. It’s not the content of these stories that is turning audiences and critics off, but the quality of their adaptations.The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesperformed well at the box office because it was given the appropriate budget and star power.Children of Blood and Bonehas the opportunity to be the next big YA franchise and fill the vacuum that’s been open since the 2010s.
4Children Of Blood & Bone Is One Of The Best Recent YA Fantasy Books
Even if YA hasn’t been big onscreen, it hasn’t gone away in the literary world
From projects likeShadow and Boneto theScholomanceseries,YA fantasy is still a profitable and popular niche of the genrethat filmmakers should be paying attention to. However, not every YA story is created equal, as some are more imaginative and immersive than others. The reason thatChildren of Blood and Bonealready has such a significant following and has been praised by critics is because of its high quality and the fact that it pushes the boundaries of what YA books are capable of.
10 Recent Fantasy Books That Will Be Classics Someday
While there are plenty of classic fantasy novels that are perfect to revisit today, many modern additions are on track to join the fantasy canon.
While certain YA books have come and gone, quickly forgotten by the culture and readers,Children of Blood and Bonewon’t be one of those novels. Adeyemi crafted a classic inChildren of Blood and Bone, utilizing genre standbys of worldbuilding and magic while being unafraid to grapple with relevant social and political themes. While the series might fall into the YA category,adult readers will gain a lot from picking up these books in preparation for the film.
3Children Of Blood & Bone Has Great Franchise Potential
There are two other books that can be adapted after Children of Blood and Bone
The Legacy of Orïshaseries is a trilogy, followingChildren of Blood and BonewithChildren of Virtue and VengeanceandChildren of Anguish and Anarchy. While there are plenty of one-off fantasy stories that have performed well at the box office, there’s reason to believe thatChildren of Blood and Bonewill do better because of its franchise potential.Many heavy hitters within the YA genre have been adapted from trilogies,setting a strong precedent forChildren of Blood and Bone.
Outside the fact that franchises are good for the studios and creative teams behind projects like these, this is also good news for the fans.
Outside the fact that franchises are good for the studios and creative teams behind projects like these, this is also good news for the fans. The likelihood thatChildren of Blood and Bonewill be profitable enough for each book to be brought to life onscreen is looking good so far, and this is what every fantasy reader wants. If the only novel adapted into a movie isChildren of Blood and Bone, it would be disappointing. It would waste the story’s potential, as each installment of Adeyemi’s narrative brings something new to the table.
Children of Blood and Bone
2018
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
2019
Children of Anguish and Anarchy
2024
2Gina Prince-Bythewood Is Helming The Project
The director is a perfect fit for Children of Blood and Bone
Gina Prince-Bythewood is well known for her feature debut,Love & Basketball, but her recent work,The Woman King, received a lot of attention, particularly for Prince-Bythewood’s direction. Unsurprisingly,Prince-Bythewood is bringing on several cast members fromThe Woman Kingto collaborate with her againonChildren of Blood and Bone. Davis and Mbedu were featured inThe Woman King, with Mbedu stepping into the spotlight for the upcoming fantasy project.
With a history of working in a variety of pertinent genres like action, war, romance, and coming-of-age, Prince-Bythewood is the perfect fit forChildren of Blood and Bone. Thanks to this experience,she’ll be the ideal steward to bring Adeyemi’s vision to life,taking into account the parts of the book that are essential to the story and truthfully bringing Zélie and her world to life. Prince-Bythewood’s career-long advocacy for Black voices and representation in cinema is in conversation with Adeyemi’s own intentions when writing her work.
Though Legacy of Orïsha isn’t a true romantasy series, it has plenty of romantic moments
Each of the novels inLegacy of Orïshais agreat fantasy book with romance and very little spice, asZélie’s romantic journey is present in the story but never eclipses the other aspects of the tale.Striking the right balance between the inclusion of a love story and ensuring that the main thrust of the narrative revolves around Zélie’s personal development can be difficult. However, Adeyemi manages to give the reader exactly what they’re looking for, whether they’re romance lovers or not.
It’s no secret that most of the successful YA fantasy movies that have come out in the last decade had some sort of romantic subplot, and it’s a good thing thatChildren of Blood and Boneis no exception.
It’s no secret that most of the successful YA fantasy movies that have come out in the last decade had some sort of romantic subplot, and it’s a good thing thatChildren of Blood and Boneis no exception. Romantasy books have increased in popularity exponentially in the past few years, with series likeA Court of Thorns and RosesandFourth Winggarnering a large number of readers. ThoughChildren of Blood and Boneisn’t quite as romantically angsty as these titles, it still stretches that itch.
Children of Blood and Boneis scheduled to be released on January 15th, 2027 (viaThe Hollywood Reporter).
