Colorism eating away at Hollywood

What the report says

The Observer’s commentary says a dispute over the planned live-action adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s 2018 fantasy novel “Children of Blood and Bone” has turned attention back to colorism in Hollywood. The book, by the Nigerian-American author, centers on a young heroine trying to restore magic in the Kingdom of Orisha, and it previously attracted major industry interest, including a notable publishing deal and a Disney adaptation plan.

According to the piece, Adeyemi recently distanced herself from the film version and posted messages directed at actor Amandla Stenberg, who is attached to the project as Princess Amari. The article links the disagreement to concerns that the screen version may not reflect the novel’s emphasis on dark-skinned characters and the theme of discrimination based on skin tone. It also notes that Adeyemi described distress after being on set and said she would not watch the movie when it is released.

The Observer frames the episode as part of a wider and long-running conversation in the United States about light skin being favored over darker skin, especially for women in entertainment. Separately, the article suggests that the adaptation may have changed or removed elements from the book’s colorism storyline, though that point is presented as speculation rather than confirmed reporting. The broader significance, the piece argues, is how authorial control, casting choices and adaptation decisions can become flashpoints around representation.