NYCC: Artemis Fowl Animated Series Coming to Disney Channel and Disney+
It's a mystery why more fantasy isn't adapted into animation. The mix of medium and genre are perfectly suited to go together. Fantasy worlds can be brought to life without the budgetary restraints of live-action. But in the West at least, animated fantasy is bizarrely rare. So, it's good news to hear of a fantasy novel series getting turned into an animated series.
The Artemis Fowl books by Irish author Eoin Colfer are set to be adapted as an animated TV series. The news was revealed by Colfer himself at the 25 Years Of Artemis Fowl panel at New York ComicCon last week. The series is being produced by Disney and will air on Disney Channel (in countries where there still is such a thing) and stream on Disney+ everywhere. Colfer will serve as executive producer on the project, so a faithful adaptation should be likely.
The first book in the series, called simply Artemis Fowl, was published in 2001. In total, the series spans 11 books so far, with the most recent published in 2021. The series has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 48 languages.
Disney previously produced a live-action Artemis Fowl movie that was released on Disney+ in 2020. Despite being directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Josh Gadd, Colin Farrell, and Ferdia Shaw, the adaptation was extremely poorly received. Taking considerable liberties with the source material, neither book fans or general audiences were satisfied. It was eventually removed from the streaming service in the great purge of 2023, meaning it's essentially impossible to find.
The new animated version will hopefully be a better representation of what makes the books so beloved.
The series centres on the titular character, Artemis Fowl II, a 13-year-old genius and criminal mastermind. He uncovers an underground world of armed and dangerous fairies, who are also surprisingly high-tech. He hatches a plan to capture one to steal its magic and heal his sick mum. Artemis starts the series as a villain, but he grows and develops throughout the series.
“For more than two decades, Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl books have captivated readers around the world with unforgettable characters, imaginative world-building, and gripping adventures,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family. “Bringing this beloved franchise to life as an animated series gives us the opportunity to introduce a new generation to Artemis’ world while honouring the longtime fans who have cherished these stories for years.”
“I am proud and delighted to be part of the formidable team that is putting the Artemis Fowl animation on screen. Everyone is so talented and so positive that I feel certain the fairy world is in excellent hands," Colfer added.
Alongside Colfer, Ben Juwono and Colleen Evanson are set as executive producers. Other attached talent is to be announced.
It's early days, so there's no word on a release date or release window just yet. Stay tuned for updates!
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