Tomi Adeyemi, author and co-screenwriter of the Children of Blood and Bone film adaptation, posted a five-minute video on Wednesday describing the production as "the worst thing I have ever had to live through." The film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood for Paramount, is slated for theatrical release on January 15, 2027. (Variety, 2026-07-29)

In the video, Adeyemi alleged she left the set "hyperventilating and sobbing." She said that after returning to the United States she suffered "severe somatic pain" — physical symptoms brought on by emotional distress — and "so many panic attacks." She told viewers she would never be able to watch the finished film. "I never want to hear about this project again," she said. (Variety, 2026-07-29)

The video landed one day after the official trailer debuted on Tuesday, July 28. Adeyemi had shared the trailer on Instagram with the caption "my first movie!!" Director Gina Prince-Bythewood also posted the trailer to her own Instagram on July 27. The trailer launch had looked like a straightforward promotional beat for a major-studio fantasy release. (Variety, 2026-07-29; Instagram; Instagram)

Adeyemi's Wednesday video was not the first time she had aired concerns publicly. Earlier in July, she posted a since-deleted TikTok showing an apparent group chat with actor Amandla Stenberg, who plays Princess Amari in the film. Stenberg's casting had already drawn backlash from book fans over allegations of colourism — the preferencing of lighter-skinned actors over darker-skinned ones for roles rooted in Black or African identity. (Variety, 2026-07-29)

Children of Blood and Bone, published in 2018, is the first book in Adeyemi's bestselling Legacy of Orïsha trilogy. The novel follows Zélie, a young woman in a fantasy world rooted in West African mythology, fighting to restore magic to her people. Paramount's film adaptation has been watched closely by the book's large fanbase since it was first announced.

Representatives for Adeyemi, Paramount, and Gina Prince-Bythewood did not immediately respond to Variety's requests for comment. No further statement has been issued from any of the three parties at the time of writing.

The film remains on Paramount's release calendar for January 15, 2027. Whether Adeyemi's comments shift the studio's marketing strategy, or whether any of the parties will respond publicly, is not yet known.