Thuso Mbedu leads the other cast in Children of Blood and Bone. The movie is an adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s novel. It is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and arrives in cinemas on 15 January 2027.

Mbedu plays Zélie Adebola, a young woman who seeks restoration of magic to the kingdom of Orïsha. King Saran has carried out raids among the people in a bid to destroy all traces of magic that could become a threat to  Zele with her brother Tzain went on a dangerous journey to restore their magical powers. 

Photo: Instagram

The film cast includes Damson Idris as Prince Inan, while Amandla Stenberg plays Princess Amari. Tosin Cole takes on the role of Tzain, Zélie’s older brother. Idris Elba plays Lekan. Chiwetel Ejiofor is the ruthless King Saran, while Cynthia Erivo stars as Admiral Kaea. 

Also in the production are Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ayra Starr, Temi Fagbenle, Shamz Garuba, and Kola Bodunde. Children of Blood and Bone themes are injustice, determination and hope. 

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After the casting announcement, Mbedu talked about  how the project had been years in the making for her. She revealed that reading Adeyemi’s novel in 2019 left a lasting impression and even inspired her to hope she would one day be part of its screen adaptation.

Photo: Instagram

“Children of Blood and Bone was gifted to me in 2019 and, truly, it’s one of the best gifts I’ve received. Upon reading it I fell in love with it – to the point that I made it a prayer point.”

The author said she was moved to come up with the movie after seeing the backlash against casting two black actors in 2012’s The Hunger Games.

“I was like, ‘Oh man, I’m going to write a story that’s so good and so Black that everyone’s going to have to read it even if you’re racist,’

The director, Prince-Bythewood told Variety that:

“I am so honored and excited to bring Tomi’s ‘Children of Blood and Bone’ and the vibrant world of Orisha to life,” 

Photo: Instagram

Filming was done in Cape Town(South Africa), Canary Island (Spain) and Lagos (Nigeria). Despite facing issues over casting decisions, fans still look forward to this movie. With the stars involved, Children of Blood and Bone could be one of the top fantasy releases of 2027.

Zendaya got her third Emmy nomination for her role as Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria. The nomination arrives at a time the series is approaching its final chapter.

She received her first nomination for Euphoria after the show’s debut season in 2019. In 2020, Zendaya won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She became the youngest winner of the category at 24 years.

She returned to the Emmys in 2022 and won the same award for the show’s second season. This made her the first Black actor to win the award a Drama Series twice.

Photo: Instagram

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Her latest nomination is her third in the lead actress category. Zendaya is nominated alongside Carrie Coon, Chase Infiniti, Keri Russell and Rhea Seehorn in the drama category. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, she joked:

“I just hope you don’t get sick of me this year because I’ll tell you what, after this I’m disappearing for a little bit. I’m going to have to go into hiding for just a little bit,” 

Zendaya has also received Emmy recognition for her work behind the scenes. She earned nominations as an executive producer for Euphoria. This highlights her growing role in making the series popular.

In 2022, she received nominations related to the show’s music. Her involvement with original songs featured in Euphoria showed another side of her creative work. She has perfectly combined her acting career with music. Euphoria showed fans what her capacity was after her early years as a Disney Channel actor.

Photo: Instagram

Zendaya got film roles like Dune, Spider Man: No Way Home and Challengers. Her performances in these shows her versatility.

Zendaya’s third Emmy nomination shows she is an actress that should not be underrated. This achievement shows the belief fans and her colleagues have in her. Whatever the final  results, Zendaya’s work on Euphoria is appreciated.

Tyla is expanding her career into film after being announced as part of the voice cast for Toy Story 5, the latest instalment in Pixar’s long-running animated franchise.

The South African singer, who has built a strong international profile through her music, joins a cast that includes returning stars Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack. While Pixar has not yet revealed details about Tyla’s character, the announcement marks her first role in the globally recognised film series.

The Toy Story franchise has remained one of animation’s most successful properties since the release of the original film in 1995. Across four films, the series has followed the adventures of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and a group of toys navigating changes in their owners’ lives while exploring themes of friendship, loyalty and growing up.

Tyla – Instagram

According to information released about the upcoming film, Toy Story 5 will examine how traditional toys fit into a world where children are increasingly surrounded by digital devices and technology. The story introduces new characters while bringing back familiar favourites that audiences have followed for more than three decades.

For Tyla, the casting represents another high-profile project during a period of growing international visibility. Although she is best known for her music career, the move into voice acting reflects the broader opportunities increasingly available to artists whose reach extends across multiple entertainment platforms.

Tyla – Instagram

The announcement has attracted attention both locally and internationally, with many South Africans welcoming the news as another example of homegrown talent securing opportunities in major global productions. Tyla joins a growing list of South African entertainers whose work is reaching audiences far beyond the continent.

As production on Toy Story 5 continues, more details about Tyla’s role are expected to be revealed. For now, her addition to the cast introduces a South African presence to one of the most recognisable animated film franchises ever created, adding another dimension to a career that continues to develop on the international stage.