Paramount Pictures has dropped the first trailer for Children of Blood and Bone, director Gina Prince-Bythewood‘s big-screen adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling fantasy novel. Watch it below.
The first look arrives with a musical pedigree to match its scale: Paramount says the trailer features new original songs from Grammy winners Tems and Burna Boy, who are also attached to the film. Tems has been named executive music producer of the Children of Blood and Bone soundtrack, while Burna Boy is serving as the film’s executive music consultant. The released clip is cut to an excerpt of Beyoncé’s 2022 track “Energy.”
Here’s everything to know about Children of Blood and Bone ahead of its release.
Plot
Set in an alternate-history, pre-colonial West Africa, the film follows Zélie Adebola (Thuso Mbedu) as she attempts to restore magic to the kingdom of Orïsha following its violent suppression by the ruthless King Saran (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Zélie and her brother team up with the king’s children, including Princess Amari (Amandla Stenberg), to take down his regime.
The film is based on Adeyemi’s 2018 debut novel, the first in her Legacy of Orïsha trilogy, which became a New York Times bestseller.
Cast
The stacked ensemble includes Thuso Mbedu, Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg and Tosin Cole, featuring Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Regina King, with Idris Elba and Viola Davis. The cast also includes Saniyya Sidney, Diaana Babnicova, Bukky Bakray, Ayra Starr, Shamz Garuba, Kola Bodunde, Pamilerin Afolake Ayodeji and Tèmítópé Fágbénlé.
Erivo and Ejiofor are both Oscar nominees, while King and Davis are Oscar winners. Mbedu, Davis, and Lynch previously worked together on Prince-Bythewood’s 2022 film The Woman King.
Release date
Children of Blood and Bone opens exclusively in theaters — including Dolby Cinema, premium large formats and Imax — on Jan. 15, 2027.
Behind the camera
Children of Blood and Bone is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood from a screenplay she co-wrote with Adeyemi, based on Adeyemi’s novel of the same name. Polly Morgan serves as cinematographer, Terilyn A. Shropshire edits the film, with music by Terence Blanchard.
The film is produced by Wyck Godfrey, John Fischer, Isaac Klausner, Karen Rosenfelt and Matt Jackson, with Jeff Waxman, Jennifer Madeloff, Adeyemi, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Marty Bowen, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary, Sophie Cassidy, and Zack Conroy serving as executive producers.
Paramount is releasing the film in association with Domain Entertainment and 2.0 Entertainment, with Temple Hill and Sunswept Entertainment producing.
