Tomi Adeyemi said she has been antagonized behind the scenes of the film adaptation of her novel, Children of Blood and Bone [1].

The public rift between a creator and the production of their best-selling work raises concerns about the treatment of authors during the adaptation process. Such conflicts can impact the final product and the relationship between the original intellectual property owner and the studio.

Adeyemi said she was profoundly dissatisfied with the experience of seeing her work transition to the screen. She described the process as a significant hardship, stating, “This film is the worst thing I’ve ever had to live through” [1].

The author has sought to distance herself from the project following these experiences. While the film aims to bring the fantasy world to a wider audience, the internal friction has become a public point of contention — a rare occurrence for a high-profile adaptation.

Reports indicate that the friction occurred during the production phases of the movie [1]. Adeyemi has not detailed specific incidents of antagonism, but her public statements highlight a breakdown in the collaborative relationship required to translate a novel into a cinematic experience.

The film features Amanda Steinberg, but the focus of recent reports has remained on the author's distress regarding the production's environment [1]. This tension suggests a disconnect between the creative vision of the author and the execution by the film's producers.

““This film is the worst thing I’ve ever had to live through””

This conflict highlights the precarious power dynamic between authors and film studios. When an author publicly disavows their own adaptation, it may signal a lack of creative control or a hostile production environment, potentially affecting the project's reception and the author's future willingness to license their work for screen adaptations.