Paramount’s Epic New Fantasy Leads Author To Swear Off Novel Adaptations Forever

Published Sep 28, 2026, 3:36 PM EDT Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour. Tomi Adeyemi continues to speak out against the upcoming film based on her novel Children of Blood and Bone, and her latest comments have major ramifications for future adaptations. Over the summer, the author bluntly broke her silence about the movie, saying she no longer wanted to be involved with the production and insinuating that star Amandla Stenberg played a role. At one point, Adeyemi posted screenshots of private messages she sent to Stenberg that called out the actress for the way she used her name in public forums. Now, with the release of her new novel, The Siren, on September 29, Adeyemi is opening up again about the Children of Blood and Bone controversy. After what she considers a disastrous experience trying to bring her book to life on the big screen, she told The Guardian that she never wants any other novel she writes to be adapted, adding, "I still don't plan to watch it, but it's not really for me to watch." When she's writing her books, Adeyemi has full control of the story and how the characters look. It's "truly in my hands," she explained. With a movie or TV show, though, "the director makes every decision," including the casting process. Adeyemi noted that the actors playing her characters in the upcoming film "aren't my choices." “With a film, the director makes every decision. With my book, I can talk about every choice down to the commas because that’s truly in my hands. So there’s nothing for me to add, other than the clarity that these aren’t my choices. “[I will] never [adapt one of my books again]. I still don’t plan to watch it, but it’s not really for me to watch.” Released in 2018, Children of Blood and Bone was Adeyemi's very first published novel. The fantasy story centers on protagonist Zélie Adebola's quest to bring magic back to her kingdom, Orïsha. The author experienced instant success, with the book debuting at the top of the New York Times' bestsellers list. That same year, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon hosted a book club, and viewers chose Children of Blood and Bone as the very first selection. Adeyemi followed that up with Children of Virtue and Vengeance and Children of Anguish and Anarchy to wrap up the trilogy. Like the first novel, both sequels became bestsellers as well. All of this success, which was one of the biggest Young Adult deals in publishing history, added a lot of pressure on the author to be "the perfect dark-skinned Black girl, to be 'Oprah good.'" So when she realized what the film adaptation was turning into, she felt like she needed to speak out or else she "couldn't move forward. I can't really worry about the response because I don't have to live with how people respond to me. I have to live with me, every day." “I felt pressure to be the perfect dark-skinned Black girl, to be ‘Oprah good.’ This was the biggest YA book deal in history, not just for a female or Black author. And so few of us are given a shot at all, so for the last 12 years there’s been this sense of carrying everyone. I never really adjusted, because there was so much work still to do. It’s been 12 to 14 years of intense grinding. “I understood that if I didn’t speak up, I couldn’t move forward. I can’t really worry about the response because I don’t have to live with how people respond to me – I have to live with me, every day. I won’t go into the specifics,” she says carefully. [But] the whole journey of the trilogy and the adaptation felt biblical…It took all of me.” There were also obstacles early on in the process. The entertainment industry quickly expressed interest in adapting the trilogy, known as Legacy of Orïsha. Disney/Lucasfilm was attached to the project at one point. When Adeyemi attempted to become more involved with the film, including writing the screenplay, that didn't go over well. The author also grew frustrated with how slow the development process was. Eventually, Disney chose to give up the film rights to Children of Blood and Bone, and Paramount Pictures came on board as a replacement studio, with Adeyemi being given the opportunity to executive produce and write. Gina Prince-Bythewood is the director and also refined Adeyemi's script. Aside from Stenberg, Children of Blood and Bone also stars Viola Davis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, Idris Elba, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh and Richard Mofe-Damijo. Producers include Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Karen Rosenfelt and Matt Jackson. Fans can head to the movie theater to see Children of Blood and Bone in early 2027, but there's one person who won't be there: Tomi Adeyemi. Children of Blood and Bone will be released in theaters on Friday, January 15, 2027. Release Date January 15, 2027 Director Gina Prince-Bythewood Writers Gina Prince-Bythewood, Tomi Adeyemi Producers Reggie Rock Bythewood, Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, Marty Bowen