Entertainment Tonight has released exclusive first-look footage from the production of the film adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s fantasy trilogy, "Children of Blood and Bone" [1].
The footage provides a rare glimpse into the translation of a popular book series to the big screen, highlighting the scale of the production and the visual direction of the fantasy world.
Filmed on location in South Africa, the production features South African actress Thuso Mbedu and actor Tosin Cole [1, 2]. The set visit, hosted by Nischelle Turner, also featured director Gina Prince-Bythewood, who said insights into the journey of bringing the story to life [1, 3].
The project aims to give fans a first look at the production process as the trilogy is adapted for cinema [4]. The official trailer for the film was previously released on July 28, 2026 [3].
While some reports list a wide array of cast members including Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, and Regina King, other production reports focus primarily on Mbedu, Cole, and Prince-Bythewood [2, 5]. The current footage emphasizes the chemistry between the lead actors and the atmospheric South African landscapes used to build the film's setting [1, 2].
Production efforts for the film have focused on maintaining the essence of Adeyemi's original work while utilizing the natural geography of South Africa to represent the fantasy realm [1, 2].
“Entertainment Tonight released exclusive first-look footage from the South African set.”
The release of on-set footage and the utilization of South African locations signal a commitment to authentic regional representation and high production value for the adaptation. By bridging the gap between the novel's fanbase and the cinematic version, the studio is leveraging early transparency to build anticipation for a complex fantasy world.
