Production has begun on Disney’s adaptation of ‘Artemis Fowl’, what is hoped to be the kickoff to a new series of blockbuster movies based on the YA novels by Eoin Colfer. Kenneth Branagh (‘Murder on the Orient Express’) is directing this movie about a young criminal mastermind operating in a magical world of faeries and trolls. The screenplay is by Michael Goldenberg (‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’), based on a treatment by Conor McPherson (‘The Eclipse’). Now the cast has been revealed.
Irish newcomer Ferdia Shaw has landed the coveted title role as Artemis Fowl, a 12 year-old criminal whose takes over his father’s empire after his death which may have resulted from a conflict with faeries. Dame Judi Dench and Josh Gad, who both starred in Branagh’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ will also appear in ‘Artemis Fowl’. Dench plays Commander Root, “the steely leader of the fairy police force,” while Gad plays Mulch Diggums, a thieving dwarf who works for the fairies.
Lara McDonnell plays elf Holly Short, the only female captain of LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Recon), while Nonso Anozie portrays Fowl’s loyal bodyguard Butler.
Now the cast has been rounded out. Tamara Smart will portray Butler’s niece, Juliet, while Miranda Raison plays Artemis’ mother, Angeline. Smart is known for the British sci-fi series ‘Hard Sun,’ a younger-skewing series ‘The Worst Witch’ which aired on CBBC in the UK and is available on Netflix in the US.
Like Dench and Gad, Raison appeared in ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ as Sonia Armstrong. She has had a lengthy career in children’s entertainment, having voiced Millie on various iterations of the ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ series for many years. She starred on the 2014 revival of ’24’, ’24: Live Another Day’. She appeared in the movie ‘My Week With Marilyn’. She has a new British series in the works, which she will be headlining– ‘Nightflyers’.
Branagh will be bringing over much of his behind-the-scenes crew from ‘Orient Express’. ‘Wonder Woman’s Martin Walsh will edit ‘Artemis Fowl’. Costumes will be designed by ‘Assassin’s Creed’s Sammy Sheldon Differ.
Based on the first book of Eoin Colfer’s best-selling series of the same name, and directed by Kenneth Branagh, Disney’s “Artemis Fowl” has begun principal photography and will film in England, Northern Ireland and Ho Chi Minh City. The book was adapted for the screen by award-winning playwright Conor McPherson.
Descended from a long line of criminal masterminds, 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl finds himself in a battle of strength and cunning against a powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father’s disappearance.
‘Artemis Fowl’ is due to be released on August 9, 2019.
Source: Screen Rant
