Tomi Adeyemi speaks out against 'Children of Blood and Bone' film, claims she faced hostility

Nigerian-American writer Tomi Adeyemi has stepped back from Paramount Pictures’ upcoming film based on her popular book, Children of Blood and Bone. She claims she faced constant antagonism behind the scenes during the making of the movie.

Her comments come just months before the film’s release. There is a lot of excitement about the adaptation, which stars Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Regina King, Damson Idris, Thuso Mbedu, and Nigerian music star Ayra Starr.

Adeyemi, who wrote the bestselling book and co-wrote the screenplay, called the experience “the worst thing I have ever had to live through.” She said she left the film set “hyperventilating and sobbing” and has no plans to watch or promote the film.

The 32-year-old made these remarks in a TikTok video on Wednesday. She alleged that senior people involved in production had “antagonised” her for over a year.

This adaptation has been one of Hollywood’s most awaited fantasy films since Paramount Pictures bought the rights. The film was shot in Nigeria and South Africa, attracting global attention for its star-studded cast and its story based on Yoruba culture.

Children of Blood and Bone, published in March 2018, quickly became a hit. It is inspired by Yoruba mythology and West African culture. The story follows Zélie Adebola, a young woman trying to bring magic back to Orïsha after a cruel monarchy wiped it out.

The book debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Young Adult Bestseller list. It also launched Adeyemi’s successful Legacy of Orïsha trilogy.

Before Adeyemi's latest comments, the film had already sparked debate in Nigeria. After Paramount Pictures announced the cast, some critics questioned why certain lead roles went to non-Nigerian actors in a story tied to Yoruba culture. Many felt more local actors should have been chosen. This raised larger issues about cultural representation and colourism.

Even after Nigerian actors like Richard Mofe-Damijo and singer Ayra Starr joined the cast, discussions about representation continued as the film's release approached.

On TikTok, Adeyemi explained why she decided to distance herself from the film, which has been in development for over eight years since the rights were taken in 2017.

“What I’m about to share is not a secret to the people involved. It’s a reality I’ve had to live with for about a year and a half, and everyone involved, at least at the highest level, has been made aware of it, yet they haven’t done anything to improve it. If anything, they’ve only antagonised me.

“But I also accept if I don’t say something, I think it’s just going to be worse,” said the 2018 Andre Norton Award winner.

Adeyemi shared that she had already accepted that she would never see the film due to the emotional pain from the production.

“I’m not going to speak on what I endured to make it through the young adult trilogy, and I’m not going to speak about everything that I also suffered through or endured to adapt a reality. I’m actually only going to speak about what happened after I left that set of my own film adaptation, hyperventilating and sobbing.

“There are many witnesses, so it’s not really a secret. I came back to America and suffered from such severe somatic pain and so many panic attacks. I knew it was so bad that I would never be able to watch this film, and I made peace with that,” she said.

Usually, authors help promote movies based on their work before the release. Adeyemi’s choice to publicly step back from the project months before it hits cinemas is unusual.

As the film's promotional campaign, including its first trailer, started, Adeyemi felt she had to speak out.

But she did not name those who allegedly antagonised her or give details about what happened during production.

“As it is being marketed, and as I am still being antagonised behind the scenes, which is where I hoped all of this would stay, it’s become apparent to me that reality needs to be at least made known. So you guys can understand how this film, which I worked on to make it a little better for us to live, is also the worst thing I have ever had to live through.

“I don’t wish to speak on it anymore. I don’t know if that’s possible. I understand that I have a public presence and that this is a global project. I don’t have anything to say about the people who made it. I do not care anymore. I’m trying to move on.

“So please understand, I never want to hear about this project again,” she concluded.

At the time of this report, representatives for Adeyemi, Paramount Pictures, and the film’s director, Gina Prince-Bythewood, had not responded to the allegations.