Fantasy Author Expresses Discontent with Film Adaptation: “This Is the Most Challenging Experience I’ve Ever Endured”

Next year, a film adaptation of the young adult fantasy novel *Children of Blood and Bone* is set to hit theaters. Directed by the talented Gina Prince-Bythewood, known for her work on *Love & Basketball*, the movie boasts a star-studded cast featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest Black talents, including Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Amandla Stenberg. However, the book’s author, Tomi Adeyemi, will not be part of the promotional efforts leading up to the film’s January release. She has shared videos distancing herself from the project, stating she won’t even watch it when it premieres.

It’s not uncommon for authors to have mixed feelings about film adaptations of their work. For instance, Stephen King famously criticized the 1980 version of *The Shining*. Yet, Adeyemi’s situation appears to be more complex. In a recent TikTok video, she expressed that her issues with the film extend beyond mere dislike, suggesting there are deeper concerns at play. This follows a previous (now-deleted) video where she declared she was “officially separating [her] name” from the film, including screenshots of a text message she allegedly sent to Stenberg in 2025, instructing her to “do not ever use my name in an interview or video again.”

Adeyemi reassured her fans that while they are free to see the film, she has been feeling “hurt and attacked behind the scenes” and wishes to dissociate from the project. On July 29, she released another video, which she hopes will be her final statement on the matter. In it, she revealed that those at the “highest level” of the project were aware of the issues but took no action.

She described experiencing “severe somatic pain” and panic attacks due to the turmoil, calling the film’s production process “the worst thing [she’s] ever had to live through.” Adeyemi asked fans to respect her desire to move on and not bring up the movie again.

While fans have criticized her for being vague in her video, it’s unclear how much she can disclose without facing potential legal or personal repercussions. When the film’s cast was first announced, the adaptation faced accusations of colorism, particularly regarding Stenberg’s casting. However, the actor has stated that Adeyemi wanted her for the role and defended the choice. The transition from that support to Adeyemi telling Stenberg not to contact her and seemingly blocking her number remains murky. It appears that Adeyemi is signaling to her fans that she prefers not to discuss the film as she prepares to promote her upcoming book, *The Siren*, set to release on September 26.