As Tomi Adeyemi‘s 2018 YA novel makes its way to the big screen, she has no plans to watch the first film adaptation of her work.
The Children of Blood & Bone author recently addressed a fan’s question about why she hasn’t spoken more about the upcoming Gina Prince-Bythewood-helmed Paramount adaptation, premiering Jan. 15.
“There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work. That’s all,” Adeyemi wrote in DMs she shared on TikTok.
“And lastly since someone asked – I have not seen the film, and I will not watch it,” added Adeyemi, who also co-wrote the film with Prince-Bythewood. “It’s been painful holding this back from you all. … And I’m sorry if any of you thought I didn’t care about US. More than any glitter.”
Adeyemi also shared a screenshot of a DM she apparently sent to Amandla Stenberg, who plays Princess Amari in the film adaptation. “Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me,” she wrote to Stenberg. Deadline has reached out to Stenberg’s rep.
The message was dated in late February, shortly after Stenberg responded to accusations of “stealing roles from dark-skinned women,” as many fans noted the character is described in the book as having “dark copper skin.”
“I had the opportunity to meet Tomi, the novelist, for the first time,” said Stenberg at the time. “Then, she goes, ‘Amandla, I want you to know that when you were a little girl and were cast as Rue in The Hunger Games, and you had these racist remarks thrown at you because people said that Rue’s death wouldn’t be as sad because you’re a Black girl — that inspired me to write this series, so that Black girls like you and Black girls of all shades could have a story written about them.’ We just started crying, and I said to myself, ‘God wants me here!’”
Based on the first book in Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, Children of Blood and Bone is set in an African fantasy kingdom where a young woman goes on a quest to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from her people. She and her brother ally with the daughter and son of the king to fight back against his brutal rule.
The cast also includes Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Viola Davis and more.
