One of the most popular series of children’s books of recent times is finally getting a film adaptation, with a live action take on Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl novels arriving on Disney+ this month.
The fantasy books have been a hit since first being released almost 20 years ago, with the tales of young antihero selling more than 21 million copies worldwide.
The movie has been in the works in some form at Disney for years, and while it's been delayed one more than one occasion – most recently due to the coronavirus – it's arriving very soon. It was originally intended to arrive in cinemas, but the studio made the decision to make the film available exclusively on the streaming service in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Here's what you need to know about the upcoming movie.
What is the new Disney+ film about?
The film follows the youngest member of a family of criminal masterminds, a 12-year-old genius called Artemis Fowl II. He lives in a world full of fairies and fairytale creatures – although their existence is initially unknown to him. The film sees him discover the truth about the world and team up with a dwarf and a fairy in order to search for his father, who has been kidnapped by a group of fairies looking to reclaim their stolen property.
Trailer
The clip released for the new film shows young Artemis Fowl II learning from his father, Colin Farrell’s Artemis Fowl I. We see him showing skills in surfing, the martial art of Kendo, and coding.
“You’ve grown strong, son, and smarter than I could ever imagine,” his father says. Farrel’s character is then seen leaving the family's vast country home, before disappearing, which triggers a worldwide manhunt.
We then see Artemis introduced to a secret underground base in his home by the family butler (Nonso Anozie), which leads to revelations about his father’s mysterious past.
“Your father is in a complicated profession,” Butler says. “For years, he has protected powerful secrets that have kept mankind safe from the dangers of another world. It’s time to face your destiny.”
The clip then shows the human world and the world of fairies and magical creatures begin to collide, with Artemis embracing his father’s legacy. “I’m the next criminal mastermind,” he says.
Who’s in the cast?
Newcomer Ferdia Shaw plays the title role in the new movie, leading a cast packed with some of the biggest names in the British and Irish film industry. Colin Farrell plays his father, Artemis Fowl II, while Josh Gad steps into the role of Artemis’s grizzled dwarf sidekick, Mulch Diggums.
Nonso Anozie plays the Butler who helps young Artemis discover more about the work of his father, while Judi Dench portrays one of the leaders of the fairies, Commander Root. Hong Chau appears as the pixie Opal Koboi and Gavin and Stacey’s Adrian Scarborough plays the Goblin Chief.
Kenneth Branagh is in the director’s seat for the film, marking his first movie behind the camera since 2018’s Shakespeare biopic All Is True.
When is Artemis Fowl released on Disney+?
The film arrives on the streaming platform on June 12.
