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Disney & Harvey Weinstein Team for 'Artemis Fowl' Movie Adaptation
by Ethan Anderton
July 30, 2013
Another fantasy franchise adaptation is headed to the big screen. Walt Disney Studios has just announced an adaptation of the worldwide best-selling children's book series Artemis Fowl with producer Harvey Weinstein. The live-action adaptation will be based on the first two books in the series from author Eoin Colfer which follows a 12-year-old boy named Artemis who just happens to be a millionaire, genius and criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn’t know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy (Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit) to harness her magic to save his family. What's so bad about fairies? Read on!
The fairies in this story are dangerous, so Fowl has his hands full after he demands a ransom from the People - the various fairies who have moved their entire civilization underground to hide from humans - for one ton of twenty-four carat gold. That's the plot of the first book, but since the film will adapt the first and second book, it's worth mentioning that the second title, The Arctic Incident, follows the rescue of Artemis Fowl's father from the Russian Mafia, alongside the battle against the goblin rebellion led by a pixie named Opal Koboi and an elf named Briar Cudgeon. Perhaps that's why Fowl needs the fairies magic?
The script will come from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix scribe Michael Goldenberg, but it's a Disney movie from producer Harvey Weinstein that sounds truly intriguing. Even Weinstein himself can't believe this deal saying, "If you would have told me five years ago I would be producing a project with Disney I would have thought you were crazy." The producer went on to say:
“I feel as though everything is coming full circle considering Bob DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal brought me this book while I was still at Miramax and within hours I told them I wanted the rights to the film. I am thrilled to be reunited with Alan Horn who I worked with while he was at Warner Bros. and we had tremendous success with 'The Aviator,' 'Starsky and Hutch' and 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.' It is also exciting to partner with friends Alan Bergman, Sean Bailey and of course Bob Iger who has been incredibly generous to me over the years. This is a special project for me because my children absolutely love this book. This story is for everyone and there is no one better than Disney to make a film that will excite people young and old.”
Yes, Robert De Niro is executive producing the film, but it remains to be seen if he might end up in front of the camera for this fantasy. Weinstein's previous collaborator Alan Horn is also excited about the prospect of working with Harvey again as he says, "Harvey is one of the preeminent producers in the industry, with impeccable taste and creative instincts. I had a wonderful time working with Harvey during my tenure at Warner Bros., and I'm very happy to continue that relationship here at Disney.” Sure, it's standard publicity fluff, but having all these names together on a project like this is certainly provocative.
6 Comments
1
I didn't particularly care for these books, and I certainly had not put them on my wish list for a live action adaptation. I wonder what age group the films will be geared towards?
EmagSamurai on Jul 30, 2013
2
Ive never heard of this book series. Someone needs to make a rated R version of the demonata series by darren shan
whatsxhisxname on Jul 30, 2013
3
Love the books. I'd be absolutely thrilled if they could adapt it right. Colfer said he would describe the books as "Die Hard with fairies" and I definitely picked up that vibe. I would also add that it had a lot of Roald Dahl-ish humor. Very unique; great mix of 80's action, Bourne/Bond-ish espionage, sly humor, smart sci-fi, well written characters and, of course, colorful fairy universe building.
si1ver on Jul 30, 2013
4
I quite enjoyed these books when I was younger. I'd see the film out of sheer curiosity.
Jon Odishaw on Jul 30, 2013
5
They wanted Percy Jackson to be the next Harry Potter...I do not have high expectations for this franchise.
DAVIDPD on Jul 30, 2013
6
fair comment. although Percy Jackson 2 comes out soon. probably won't be very good, but it could be all right
conradthegreat on Jul 30, 2013
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