Back in February it was announced that Rick Famuyiwa (Dope) had signed on to direct an adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s YA fantasy Children of Blood and Bone for Fox 2000, and now comes word that the project has transitioned to Lucasfilm following Disney’s Fox acquisition.
Deadline reports that Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy is on board to produce the movie as the studio’s first non-Star Wars project for Disney, with This Is Us screenwriter Kay Oyegun tapped to write the script. Famuyiwa remains on board as director, as well as producing alongside Kennedy, Marty Bowen, Isaac Klausner and John Fischer of Temple Hill, and Karen Rosenfelt of Sunswept Entertainment.
Set in the magic-infused kingdom of Orisha, Children of Blood and Bone follows a young woman named Zelie Adebola who witnesses the death of her mother and other magicians, called “maji,” under the order of a ruthless king. Zelie sets out to restore magic to her land, teaming up with a rogue princess to outwit and outrun a crown prince while avoiding prowling snow “leoponaires” and vengeful spirits that wait in the waters.
