Way back in 2017, Disney announced that they would be releasing a film adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s best-selling fantasy series. However, the project ended up getting pushed back for reasons unknown. But with three months until its new 2020 premiere date, we finally have our first trailer for the adaptation of Artemis Fowl.
When 12-year-old mastermind criminal Artemis Fowl’s father is kidnapped, he does what anyone of us would do: reach out to the underground fairy world to bring him back. Okay, maybe not what any of us would do, but the fantastic world of the fae will be brought to life in this new film. It is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also did Disney’s live-action Cinderella, and stars Ferdia Shaw as Artemis, Nonso Anozie as Butler, Dame Judi Dench as Commander Root, Lara McDonnell as Holly Short, Josh Gad as Mulch, and Colin Farrell as Artemis’ dad.
I will admit that it has been a long time since I’ve read an Artemis Fowl book, but right off the bat you can tell that this movie is not going to be a faithful adaptation of the first book. Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing but it does present some interesting questions as to what they plan to do with sequels. Some have speculated that this film will mix the first two books, which explains why series antagonist Opal Koboi will be making an appearance. Still, the effects look amazing and the overall look of the technology and cityscape for the fairies might just make that little literary sin less important.
Artemis Fowl is set to premiere in theaters on May 29, 2020.