Adeyemi Won't Watch Blood & Bone Film, Cuts Off Stenberg
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- Tomi Adeyemi announced on TikTok that she will not watch the Paramount film adaptation of her 2018 novel 'Children of Blood & Bone,' writing, "There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work" and calling it "painful."
- Adeyemi co-wrote the screenplay with director Gina Prince-Bythewood; the film premieres January 15 and is based on the first book in her 'Legacy of Orïsha' trilogy, set in an African fantasy kingdom where a young woman reclaims stolen magic.
- Adeyemi shared a screenshot of a late-February DM to star Amandla Stenberg reading: "Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me."
- Stenberg, who plays Princess Amari — described in the book as having "dark copper skin" — had previously defended herself against accusations of "stealing roles from dark-skinned women," recounting that Adeyemi once told her the racist backlash to her 'Hunger Games' casting as Rue "inspired me to write this series."
- The film's ensemble cast includes Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Regina King, and Viola Davis.
- Reader comments on the Deadline piece largely highlighted Adeyemi's compensation, with multiple users noting "she cashed the check, right?" and calling the public silence "shady and unkind behavior."
Why it matters: Adeyemi's public break with Stenberg — the lead of a film she co-wrote — puts Paramount's January 15 adaptation under a cloud of intra-cast controversy just weeks before release, with the author herself distancing from the project she co-wrote and the star she once credited with inspiring it.
