Gina Prince-Bythewood's 'Children of Blood & Bone' Trailer Debuts At CinemaCon

The epic African-inspired fantasy film based on Tomi Adeyemi's bestselling novel is set to hit theaters in January 2027.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:11pm

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An extreme close-up of shimmering sequins and shattered glass, reflecting dramatic studio lighting to create a high-fashion, glamorous aesthetic without depicting any literal objects or people.The dazzling textures and lighting of the Children of Blood & Bone trailer promise a visually stunning cinematic experience.Los Angeles Today

Gina Prince-Bythewood's upcoming film 'Children of Blood & Bone', based on Tomi Adeyemi's bestselling novel, was previewed at CinemaCon. The film follows a magic user named Zelie who aims to end the ruthless king's suppression of magic users in the kingdom of Orisha. The impressive cast includes Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Lashana Lynch, Idris Elba, and Viola Davis.

Why it matters

Children of Blood & Bone marks Gina Prince-Bythewood's first project since her critically acclaimed film The Woman King. The film is an epic African-inspired fantasy that aims to bring diverse representation and authentic storytelling to the big screen.

The details

The trailer shown at CinemaCon revealed the fictional kingdom of Orisha, which is divided into various clans with distinct magical abilities. However, the ruthless King Saran, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, has suppressed magic users and enacted a rule of terror, which the protagonist Zelie, played by Thuso Mbedu, hopes to end in order to reunite Orisha's clans.

  • The film is set to hit theaters on January 15, 2027.

The players

Gina Prince-Bythewood

The director of Children of Blood & Bone, known for her previous work on The Woman King.

Tomi Adeyemi

The author of the bestselling novel Children of Blood & Bone, on which the film is based.

Thuso Mbedu

The lead actress in the film, who made her debut in The Woman King.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

The actor playing the ruthless King Saran in the film.

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What they’re saying

“Absolutely, we were going to shoot there. Then I wanted to give the cast a 360 world to play in. That meant building, rather than having a CG world. Costumes drawing inspiration from all over the continent. The action: no wires, no stunt doubles. It's our cast doing the incredible fighting.”

— Gina Prince-Bythewood, Director

What’s next

The film is set to hit theaters on January 15, 2027, marking Gina Prince-Bythewood's first project since The Woman King.

The takeaway

Children of Blood & Bone is an ambitious and visually stunning African-inspired fantasy film that aims to bring diverse representation and authentic storytelling to the big screen. The impressive cast and director's commitment to filming on location in Africa promise an immersive and captivating cinematic experience for audiences.