‘Children of Blood and Bone’ Shows off the World of Orïsha in a New Trailer and Poster
‘Children of Blood and Bone’ is one of the most anticipated fantasy films of the coming year. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 novel is set in a fictional African kingdom full of magic. Paramount Pictures’ logline describes a young woman who sets out to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from her people.
Fans got their first real look at the film in July. That first trailer introduced Thuso Mbedu as Zélie, a woman who can command the spirits of the dead. Her homeland, the kingdom of Orïsha, is divided into clans with different magical abilities, and King Saran, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, has suppressed magic through a reign of terror.
Paramount has now raised the excitement with new marketing. A new official trailer has been released, along with a new poster, ahead of the film’s theatrical debut on January 15, 2027. The film is also coming to IMAX.
The poster puts the large cast front and center. Their faces are arranged in a fan of angular panels above a sunlit landscape, with the tagline “To defeat an empire, rise as one.” It also bills the film as being “based on the bestselling worldwide phenomenon.”
A new poster for ‘CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE’ has been released. In theaters on January 15. https://t.co/cXE59PbFZn
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) November 12, 2026
The tagline reflects the story’s central alliance. Zélie and her older brother Tzain team up with the king’s daughter, Princess Amari, and his son, Prince Inan, to resist their father’s brutal rule. Mbedu leads the cast as Zélie Adebola. Tosin Cole plays Tzain, Amandla Stenberg plays Amari, and Damson Idris plays Inan. Regina King appears as Queen Nehanda.
The supporting cast is just as impressive. Viola Davis plays Mama Agba, Cynthia Erivo is Admiral Kaea, Idris Elba plays the high priest Lekan and Lashana Lynch plays Jumoke, Zélie and Tzain’s mother. Zackary Momoh, Richard Mofe-Damijo and Nigerian singer Ayra Starr are also in the cast.
A new trailer for ‘CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE’ has been released. In theaters on January 15. https://t.co/5WookeNIeJ
— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) November 12, 2026
The project brings back familiar collaborators. Prince-Bythewood co-wrote the screenplay with Adeyemi and reunites with several actors from her 2022 film ‘The Woman King,’ including Mbedu, Davis and Lynch. Mbedu made her film debut in that movie. Prince-Bythewood joined the project in December 2023 to direct and develop the script. Principal photography began in Lagos in February 2025 and wrapped on June 2, 2025.
Prince-Bythewood wanted the fantasy world to feel real. Production filmed at locations across the African continent to give the actors a real-world backdrop and keep the story grounded despite its magic. The team also drew on real-world phenomena and traditions, such as cultural scarification, to shape the world.
From visionary filmmaker Gina Prince-Bythewood, the world of Orïsha comes to life. Watch the Official Trailer for Children Of Blood And Bone – only in theatres and IMAX January 15, 2027. https://t.co/LCzUYxbLwG
— Children of Blood and Bone (@ChildrenofBandB) July 28, 2026
The cast took on much of the action themselves. Prince-Bythewood said the stars, including Mbedu and Cole, trained for several months so they could do most of their own stunts, and Mbedu spent a lot of time training with a staff.
Not every decision has been universally welcomed. Fans debated representation, colorism, and authenticity after the casting was announced. Some also pointed out that the leads are in their 30s, while Zélie and her companions are teenagers in the book. Stenberg has defended the casting. With the release date approaching, Paramount is now focusing its marketing on the scale and spectacle of Orïsha.
Are you excited to see ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ bring the magical world of Orïsha to life?
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