![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/comp-1783279064.png\")
\n\t\tTomi Adeyemi has publicly distanced herself from the adaptation of her novel, which stars Amandla Stenberg (Picture: WireImage\/Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tTomi Adeyemi has publicly distanced herself from the adaptation of her novel, which stars Amandla Stenberg (Picture: WireImage\/Getty)<\/p>\n
Author Tomi Adeyemi has publicly denounced the film adaptation of her bestselling novel and told its lead actress to never \u2018use [her] name\u2019 again in a dramatic development.<\/p>\n
Young adult romantic fantasy novel Children of Blood and Bone was released in 2018 by the Nigerian-American writer to high praise, having received one of the biggest YA publishing deals ever.<\/p>\n
As a result, a silver screen adaptation was green-lit, with Paramount Pictures acquiring the rights for an exclusive theatrical release in 2022.<\/p>\n
Some of the most sought-after names in Hollywood joined the cast, including Viola Davis<\/a>, Idris Elba<\/a>, Cynthia Erivo<\/a>, Damson Idris<\/a>, and Chiwetel Ejiofor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Amandla Stenberg has been confirmed to play Princess Amari, too, for the story set in an African fantasy kingdom and following a young woman, Z\u00e9lie Adebola (Thuso Mbedu), who goes on a quest to reclaim the magical powers stolen from her.<\/p>\n However, now in post-production, the project has soured, with Adeyemi defiantly distancing herself from the film and declaring that she will not watch it.<\/p>\n Taking to TikTok<\/a> this weekend, the 32-year-old author shared a video with the text, \u2018Why don\u2019t you post about the adaptation of your first film adaptation anymore?\u2019, adding in the caption: \u2018for everyone\u2019s who\u2019s been asking \u2013 i\u2019m answering this question once and for all.\u2019<\/p>\n In the video, she shared screenshots of messages she\u2019d sent to unidentified recipients on Instagram<\/a>. The first read: \u2018there is a reason i will not post anything about the adaptation of my work. that is all.\u2019<\/p>\n A follow-up sent to the same person read: \u2018from this point on, if you want to support me, you can purchase any edition of the trilogy at local independent children\u2019s bookstores (books of wonder, nyc)\u2019.<\/p>\n Those messages were dated June 25, with the next screenshot suggesting a feud between Adeyemi and film star Stenberg, 27, has been brewing for over a year, as the author messaged her on February 28, 2025.<\/p>\n In her text, Adeyemi wrote: \u2018do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. do not text me. do not call me.\u2019<\/p>\n Underneath, an iPhone notification said, \u2018You blocked this contact.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t It\u2019s unknown whether Stenberg attempted to reply to Adeyemi before being blocked, but a fraction of her previous message is visible in the screenshot. It said, in part: \u2018My only hope was to reconnect as human beings.\u2019<\/p>\n Adeyemi\u2019s string of receipts concluded with three more messages sent to an unnamed contact.<\/p>\n She began: \u2018and lastly since someone asked \u2013 i have not seen the film, and i will not watch it.\u2019<\/p>\n Adeyemi then said in the group chat, which seemed to have many members, given the messages were viewed by 1.6k people: \u2018it\u2019s been painful holding this back from you all.\u2019<\/p>\n Her final message then said: \u2018and i\u2019m sorry if any of you thought i didn\u2019t care. i will always care about US. more than any glitter.\u2019<\/p>\n Upon uploading the TikTok, Adeyemi was flooded with baffled comments from fans failing to understand what had gone wrong.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Why the sudden change? you were a big defender, what happened?!?\u2019, asked @soheebby.<\/p>\n \u2018it\u2019s giving messy\u2019, @sayyida.al.hurra wrote, while @caityn_n commented: \u2018I\u2019m very confused\u2019.<\/p>\n Others said they felt \u2018sad\u2019 over how things turned out, while some are fearing for what the adaptation will now look like.<\/p>\n Replying to one follower, Adeyemi said: \u2018I do not mind anyone going to watch the film. I wrote this for us. I fought for us. I\u2019m just laying down my sword and officially separating my name because I can\u2019t keep being hurt and attacked behind the scenes.\u2019<\/p>\n Several comments further pointed out that Adeyemi initially \u2018defended\u2019 the film adaptation and its choices.<\/p>\n Last year, around the time Adeyemi seemingly messaged Stenberg, the Love, Simon star posted her own TikTok, responding to colourism backlash, having been accused of \u2018stealing roles from dark-skinned women\u2019, since many readers noticed her character is described as having \u2018dark copper skin\u2019 in the book.<\/p>\n \t\t She insisted that Adeyemi supported her joining the film, saying: \u2018I had the opportunity to meet Tomi, the novelist, for the first time. Then, she goes, \u201cAmandla, I want you to know that when you were a little girl and were cast as Rue in\u00a0The Hunger Games<\/a>, and you had these racist remarks thrown at you because people said that Rue\u2019s death wouldn\u2019t be as sad because you\u2019re a Black girl \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018We just started crying, and I said to myself, \u201cGod wants me here!\u201d\u2018<\/p>\n Stenberg has since deleted the video.<\/p>\n This is also not the first time Adeyemi (who had been confirmed as an executive producer) has wanted to cut ties with the production.<\/p>\n Previously, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that she had become dissatisfied with the pace Lucasfilm was taking and asked to serve as a scriptwriter, a request that Lucasfilm declined. <\/p>\n Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios then began focusing on the likes of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, leading to the rights to Children of Blood and Bone lapsing in late 2021 before being acquired by Paramount.<\/p>\n In December 2023, Gina Prince-Bythewood was announced as its director and confirmed to be further developing the script that Adeyemi had, by then, been approved to write. <\/p>\n The Woman King director Prince-Bythewood accompanied several cast members, including Stenberg, to CinemaCon earlier this year to debut the first look at the film, declaring it an \u2018honour to bring this incredible bestselling fantasy book to life\u2019.<\/p>\n Children of Blood and Bone\u00a0is now scheduled to be released in the US on January 15, 2027.<\/p>\n Paramount Pictures and reps for Amandla Stenberg have been contacted for comment.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_304162040-bfa1.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe writer took to TikTok with screenshots of messages she\u2019d sent about cutting ties with the project (Picture: TikTok\/Tomi Adeyemi)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_304162009-7bfc-e1783278795994.jpg\")
\n\t\tShe appears to have \u2018blocked\u2019 Stenberg (Picture: TikTok\/Tomi Adeyemi)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-1823673487-7044.jpg\")
\n\t\tAdeyemi has said she will not be watching the film (Picture: Dia Dipasupil\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Amandla](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_207280680-aa59.jpg\")
\n\t\tHunger Games actress Stenberg will play Princess Amari (Picture: Charles Sykes\/Invision\/AP)<\/p>\n
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