Overview
- Adeyemi has said she will not watch the film and publicly separated her name from the adaptation after posting a video in which she called the production experience “the worst thing I have ever had to live through.”
- In the video Adeyemi alleged prolonged behind-the-scenes antagonism and described experiencing severe panic attacks and somatic pain after returning from the set.
- Tensions on set grew earlier over casting Amandla Stenberg as Princess Amari, with public pushback about skin-tone representation and a later screenshot of a text exchange in which Adeyemi told Stenberg not to use her name.
- Trade reporting says Adeyemi has changed agencies, moving from ICM to WME and then to CAA, and unnamed industry sources described reputational strain; those claims are reported by insiders and not independently verified in the coverage.
- The film, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and co-written by Adeyemi with a large ensemble cast including Thuso Mbedu, Amandla Stenberg, Cynthia Erivo and Viola Davis, is still scheduled for theatrical release on January 15, 2027 and was pitched as a potential tentpole franchise for Paramount.