Six months before its January release, the novelist and co-screenwriter says she will not watch the film and is officially separating her name from the project.

Tomi Adeyemi posted to TikTok on July 4 to address the Paramount adaptation of her 2018 debut novel. "There is a reason I will not post anything about the adaptation of my work," she wrote. "I have not seen the film, and I will not watch it. It's been painful holding this back from you all."

Adeyemi co-wrote the screenplay alongside director Gina Prince-Bythewood and holds an executive producer credit on the film. In a follow-up post, she addressed fans directly: "I do not mind anyone going to watch the film. I wrote this for us. I fought for us. I'm just laying down my sword and officially separating my name because I can't keep being hurt and attacked behind the scenes."

Paramount originally acquired the rights to Children of Blood and Bone with a mandate to give Adeyemi creative control over the screenplay. The adaptation stars Thuso Mbedu, Tosin Cole, Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Regina King, Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Viola Davis. The film underwent reshoots earlier in 2026 and is scheduled for release on January 15, 2027, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The situation has few recent parallels. Adeyemi is credited as both co-screenwriter and executive producer on a project she is now publicly rejecting. Prince-Bythewood, whose previous film The Woman King earned widespread critical attention, has not yet commented publicly.