For readers who first discovered Orïsha through the pages of Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, the story has always been about more than magic. It raises questions about identity, belonging, and what it means to reclaim something taken from your people. This November, those themes will move from the page to the screen—and into conversations across HBCU communities.
HBCU House and Paramount Pictures will present exclusive screenings of Children of Blood and Bone in eight cities on November 17 and November 19, 2026, ahead of the film’s January 15, 2027, theatrical release.
The gatherings will welcome HBCU students, alumni, faculty, staff, and film lovers from surrounding communities. With HBCU culture at their center and doors open to all, the screenings offer a shared setting to experience a story about power, resistance, and the bonds that carry people through struggle.
Bringing Orïsha to Life
In the epic fantasy world of Orïsha, a young woman goes on a quest to reclaim the magic that was violently stolen from her people. She and her brother ally with the daughter and son of the king to fight back against his brutal rule.
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE features a stellar cast including Thuso Mbedu, Damson Idris, Amandla Stenberg, Tosin Cole, featuring Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo, Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Academy Award® winner Regina King, with Idris Elba and Academy Award® winner Viola Davis.
A Shared Experience Beyond the Screen
The screenings build on HBCU House’s history of bringing students, alumni, and surrounding communities together through film, culture, and shared experiences.
Past gatherings have ranged from The Greatest Mile during Howard Homecoming Week to HBCU House’s CBC Week gathering and HBCU Buzz’s screenings of Cross and The Blackening. Each offered a different way to connect—through movement, conversation, or the shared experience of watching a film.
With Children of Blood and Bone, that gathering takes on a new setting. Readers who have imagined Orïsha for years will sit alongside audiences discovering it for the first time, bringing their own perspectives to a story about identity, heritage, and power.
Where to Watch
The exclusive screenings will take place in:
- Tuesday, November 17: Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; and Montgomery, AL.
- Thursday, November 19: Washington, DC; Baton Rouge, LA; Nashville, TN; Greensboro, NC; and the Norfolk–Portsmouth area, VA, with the screening held in Suffolk.
All screenings begin at 7 p.m. local time. Theater locations, screening details, and registration are available at hbcu.house/rsvp.
The broader campaign is also expected to create opportunities for HBCU student journalists and creators to connect with the film, including a premiere correspondent opportunity and a virtual conversation with talent. Further details will be announced through HBCU Buzz and HBCU House.
Admission to the screenings is complimentary with an individual RSVP. Registration does not guarantee admission; entry is first come, first served until capacity is reached. Guests are encouraged to arrive early with their confirmation ready.
