New report explores alleged behind-the-scenes drama surrounding ‘Children of Blood and Bone’
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Weeks after author Tomi Adeyemi said she would not promote the film adaptation of her bestselling novel, a new report offers the clearest look yet at the alleged tensions that unfolded behind the scenes.
Weeks after author Tomi Adeyemi revealed she wouldn’t promote the film adaptation of her bestselling novel, new reporting is shedding light on the years-long journey and alleged behind-the-scenes tensions that may have contributed to the rift.
A new Vanity Fair feature chronicles the winding path that brought “Children of Blood and Bone” from one of Hollywood’s hottest pre-publication acquisitions to one of its most closely watched fantasy adaptations, while also exploring the production challenges and interpersonal conflicts that reportedly unfolded behind the scenes.
The report follows Adeyemi’s emotional social media posts last month, in which she described making the film as “the worst thing I have ever had to live through.” The bestselling author, who is credited as an executive producer and screenwriter on the adaptation, said she would not participate in promoting the movie and claimed she was left “hyperventilating and sobbing” after experiences on set. She has not publicly detailed the specific incidents that led to her decision.
According to Vanity Fair, the adaptation faced years of hurdles long before cameras rolled. The project was first acquired by Fox 2000 before Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox shuttered the label. After a stint at Lucasfilm, the rights eventually landed at Paramount Pictures, with Gina Prince-Bythewood signing on to direct the long-awaited adaptation.
The report also points to one of the production’s most public flashpoints: the casting of Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari. The announcement sparked widespread debate online, with some fans criticizing the choice and raising concerns about colorism.
According to Vanity Fair, one of the first signs that all was not well came in February 2025, after Stenberg posted a video addressing the backlash over their casting along with claims that they “steal” roles that could go to dark-skinned women.
“I would never go after a role that I didn’t feel like was right for me to chase,” they said. Stenberg also revealed they’d met Adeyemi for dinner and the author had shared that their performance as Rue in “The Hunger Games” partially inspired her to write her book series. “Tomi is our executive producer and writer now, and I know that’s what she wants to see,” Stenberg posted. “She wants to see a world onscreen that is vibrant with different skin tones and different shades.”
While Adeyemi did not respond publicly to Stenberg’s post, some sources told Vanity Fair they believe it may have sparked tension between the author and the team behind the adaptation. VF reporting also notes that while Adeyemi had been active in the casting process and excited by Stenberg’s casting initially, the relationship between the actor and writer became strained after the video was posted. In early July 2026, Adeyemi shared a screengrab from a February 2025 text chain with Stenberg putting clear boundaries in place: “Do not ever use my name in an interview or video again. Do not text me. Do not call me.”
According to a source close to the film, two days after Stenberg’s video, Adeyemi arrived on set to film a cameo appearance in a training scene featuring Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu. The source describes the tension between Adeyemi and Stenberg at the time as “palpable,” with crew members acutely aware of the strain.
Despite reported tensions behind the scenes, Adeyemi continued to defend the adaptation publicly. In June 2025, she praised Stenberg’s performance during an appearance on the “Quiet Conversations” podcast, saying audiences would understand why she’d been cast when they saw the finished film.
“If you feel brokenhearted by this, I don’t think you’ll feel that way when you’re sitting in the theaters,” Adeyemi said. “I promise you this world is beautiful, and we’re all in it.”
Nearly a year later, Adeyemi remained outwardly positive about the adaptation, happily announcing in May 2026 that she and Prince-Bythewood would share cowriting credit on “Children of Blood and Bone”:
“Your favorite writer is now an officially accredited screenwriter…and I feel the culmination of a childhood dream being sailed off to a new sea,” she shared.
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According to Vanity Fair reports, by this time Adeyemi had already begun telling people close to her that she was emotionally distancing herself from the film.
Her private frustration became public in July, when Adeyemi shared a TikTok responding to a fan who asked why she wasn’t sharing more about the film. Her message included that screenshot of text messages with Stenberg, which also revealed she’d blocked Stenberg, as well as screenshots of conversations with other fans, including one where she told a fan, “I have not seen the film, and I will not watch it. It’s been painful holding this back from you all.” In another message, she told a fan she doesn’t mind if they still go watch the movie once it’s released in January 2027. “I wrote this for us. i fought for us. i’m just laying down my sword and officially separating my name because i can’t keep being hurt and attacked behind the scenes.”
Three weeks later, on July 29, Adeyemi posted an even more distressing message, describing her experience as “the worst thing I have ever had to live through” and added that she “never wants to hear about this project again.”
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Since sharing her most recent message, Adeyemi has shifted her focus to promoting her next book, “Siren,” which is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026.
Whether audiences will see any signs of that turmoil when “Children of Blood and Bone” arrives in theaters remains to be seen.
Starring Thuso Mbedu, Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, Lashana Lynch, Regina King, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo and Viola Davis, the film is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027 via Paramount Pictures.