After a failed film adaptation: Disney is working on an Artemis Fowl animated series
Author Eoin Colfer will serve as a producer
After the failed film adaptation, "Artemis Fowl" is getting a second chance at Disney. To mark the 25th anniversary of the popular fantasy series, author Eoin Colfer personally announced at this year's New York Comic-Con that Disney is currently working on a new adaptation in the form of an animated series.
According to Variety,Colfer will serve as an executive producer on the adaptation this time around, giving him direct influence over how his story is brought to life. He'll be supported by Ben Juwono and Colleen Evanson. Juwono has worked on projects including "Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" and the "Big Hero 6" series. Colleen Evanson, on the other hand, has previously worked on series such as "DuckTales" and "Monsters at Work".
Disney Kids & Family President Ayo Davis emphasized during the announcement that the books have been captivating readers around the world for more than two decades with their characters, imaginative settings, and adventures. With the animated series, the goal is to introduce a new generation to the world of Artemis Fowl without losing sight of longtime fans.
This Is Artemis Fowl
Of course, Artemis Fowl is once again at the center of the animated series. The 13-year-old boy is highly intelligent and comes from an influential family that is, however, finding itself in increasing trouble. When Artemis learns of the existence of a hidden world, his life changes abruptly. Not only do fairies and other magical creatures live underground, but they also possess astonishingly advanced technology and are anything but harmless. Artemis then devises a risky plan: he wants to capture a fairy and harness its magic. His goal is to save his terminally ill mother.
The first "Artemis Fowl" novel was published in 2001 and quickly became an international success. The main series comprises a total of eight novels, published between 2001 and 2012. Colfer later expanded the universe with, among other things, the spin-off series "The Fowl Twins". More than 35 million copies have now been sold worldwide . The stories have also been published in 48 different languages. So it's no wonder that, over the years, there have been repeated attempts to bring Artemis to life outside the pages of the books. In addition to the new series, for example, a musical has been announced in London.
The Unsuccessful Attempt at a Film Adaptation
In 2020, Kenneth Branagh attempted to adapt "Artemis Fowl" for the screen. The filmmaker had previously gained experience with major fantasy productions, including "Thor", and later directed films such as "Murder on the Orient Express". A standard theatrical release was originally planned. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney changed its strategy and released the film directly on Disney+.
The reactions, however, were mostly negative. Fans of the books, in particular, criticized the numerous changes to the characters and plot. Consequently, a sequel that had originally been planned never materialized . It remains to be seen whether the animated series will fare better.
