She is winning and flying the South African flag high! Actress Thuso Mbedu made her debut on the international stage when she starred in Prince-Bythewood's historical epic The Woman King, followed by her role as Cora on The Underground Railroad. This time, the Pietermaritzburg-born star will start alongside Amandla Stenberg, Damson Idris and Tosin Cole in the action fantasy film, Children of Blood and Bone directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and based on Tomi Adeyemi's bestselling novel, Paramount Pictures.

GRATEFUL

In the new film, Thuso will play the role of Zelie, a young woman living in a fantasy African kingdom. Zelie will embark on a quest to reclaim the magic violently stolen from her people by the villain, King Saran. The story follows her and her older brother Tzain (Cole) as they ally with the king's daughter, Princess Amari (Stenberg), and son, Prince Inan (Idris), to fight back against his brutal king. Announcing the news on her social, Thuso said Children of Blood and Bone was gifted to her in 2019 and that it was one of the best gifts she has ever received. "Upon reading it, I fell in love with it to the point that I made it a prayer point. Before heading to Philly earlier last year, I felt the most random need to go through old journals, and there it was: a prayer point, a bold ask to God to be the lead of this amazing story. To sit here and draft this announcement is mind-boggling. To know that I have the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people as we tell this great story is truly humbling. I'm so excited. I'm so grateful," she wrote.

STAR-STUDDED

Children of Blood and Bone is set to start filming in South Africa in the coming weeks and will also feature an award-winning star-studded cast made up of Viola Davis, who will play Mama Agba; Grammy and Emmy winner and Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo, as Admiral Kaea; SAG Award winner Idris Elba, as Lekan; BAFTA winner Lashana Lynch, who will play Jumoke; and Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor.