Namina Forna’s fantasy novel is the talk of the town, having only just hit shelves on Tuesday. Now The Gilded Ones is getting a movie, and Forna is set to adapt the novel for screen herself.
Deadline reports that movie studio Makeready has optioned The Gilded Ones and intends to make a movie trilogy based on the book and its follow-ups. Brad Weston and Negin Salmasi of Makeready will produce alongside Misha Green, best-known for HBO Max’s ‘Lovecraft Country.’ Forna is writing the script.
“When I said I was making franchises, this is what I meant,” Forna wrote on Twitter in reaction to the announcement. “Watch me make some #BlackGirlMagic as I adapt The Gilded Ones for the big screen.”
In November 2020, Forna tweeted, “I want to have the biggest fantasy book franchises ever while also being happily married and having healthy, happy kids and being healthy and happy myself.”
A West African-inspired fantasy, The Gilded Ones tells the story of sixteen-year-old Deka, whose blood runs gold. In Deka’s world, gold blood is a sign of impurity in a cruel world that centers the worth of a woman to the notion of purity.
Check out the book’s full synopsis below:
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in Otera, a deeply patriarchal ancient kingdom, where a woman’s worth is tied to her purity, and she must bleed to prove it. But when Deka bleeds gold — the colour of impurity, of a demon — she faces a consequence worse than death. She is saved by a mysterious woman who tells Deka of her true nature: she is an Alaki, a near-immortal with exceptional gifts. The stranger offers her a choice: fight for the Emperor, with others just like her, or be destroyed …
Related: ‘The Gilded Ones’ by Namina Forna is a promising debut (Review)
There’s no word on a potential release date for the Gilded Ones movie, but seeing as it was only just announced, fans are likely to wait before they see Deka on screen.
I loved the gilded ones both times I read the book. I am waiting with bated breath for the movie! I keep fantasising about which actors will play the key roles and how much fun the special effects people are going to have putting together some of the creatures and action…as I said, I can hardly wait.
Thank you Namina Forna for your talent and fortitude😃
This is an amazing book so far, honestly as a young girl going through the roughest time right now this book is super cool and intriguing to read, I love the way the words fit together and every sentence makes sense I’m only up to chapter 17 and can’t wait for book 2 and possibly 3.I would love to meet Namina in real life.