Well, this is some odd news. It’s no secret that every studio wants to get in on the YA fad. Just about every hot young adult novel out there is being adapted for the big screen. Not wanting to feel left out, Walt Disney is now getting in on the action and will be bringing us a live-action adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl novels. The kicker is, Harvey Weinstein and Robert De Niro will be producing, alongside Jane Rosenthal.
Yep, that’s right, Robert De Niro and Harvey Weinstein are behind the upcoming Artemis Fowl film. I’m not sure why, or how they got involved, but it should make for an interesting project with those two at the helm.
With a script written by Michael Goldenberg, perhaps best known for adapting Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the film will focus on the titular hero, “a 12-year-old lead who is a millionaire, a genius – and above all, a criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy to harness her magic to save his family.”
I’ve actually read a couple of the Artemis Fowl novels and from what I remember, they were quite good and would make for exciting films, if executed properly. Then again, with so many YA novels being turned into films these days, and failing to deliver on expectations, I’ll remain cautiously optimistic about this one. I do hope that it turns out well though because I think the series has potential to make for some great films.
Check out the full press release below and let us know what you think in the comments. Are you excited to see an Artemis Fowl movie? Who do you want to see play the lead role?
The Walt Disney Studios is pleased to announce that it is in development on the film adaptation of Artemis Fowl with producer Harvey Weinstein. The live-action feature will be based on the first and second installments in Disney Publishing Worldwide’s best-selling children’s fiction series by author Eoin Colfer. The screenplay is being written by Michael Goldenberg (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal will executive produce the project.
“With its balance of mystery, adventure and family appeal, Artemis Fowl is a natural fit for Disney,” said Sean Bailey, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with Harvey on this exciting project.”
“Harvey is one of the preeminent producers in the industry, with impeccable taste and creative instincts,” added Alan Horn, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “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.”
“If you would have told me five years ago I would be producing a project with Disney I would have thought you were crazy,” said Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company. “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.”
Artemis Fowl is about a 12-year-old Artemis who is a millionaire, a genius – and above all, a 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. These aren’t the fairies of the bedtime stories – they’re dangerous.
The Artemis Fowl book series currently has more than 21 million copies in print in 44 languages worldwide.
