Overview
- In early July 2026 Adeyemi posted screenshots on TikTok and Instagram saying she will not watch or promote the film and that she is “officially separating” her name from the project.
- The author shared a dated direct-message screenshot that appears to show her telling Amandla Stenberg not to use her name and that Stenberg has been blocked, indicating a personal breakdown between the author and the lead actor.
- Adeyemi is credited as a co-writer of the screenplay and an executive producer, but she wrote that final creative choices were not hers and that she spent years trying to bring the story to screen.
- Industry reports note the film underwent reshoots and that early footage shown at CinemaCon drew a muted response, details that have fueled questions about studio-driven changes to the adaptation.
- The dispute revives broader debates over casting, colorism and representation for a West African–inspired story, and could affect promotion and fan reaction as the film remains set for release on January 15, 2027.