Long-gesting adaptation back on track.
Hollywood heavy hitter Harvey Weinstein has announced that he is teaming up with Walt Disney Studios for a big screen take on Irish author Eoin Colfer’s best-selling book series ‘Artemis Fowl.’
Michael Goldenberg (‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’) is on board to provide the screenplay, which will be based on the first and second instalments of Colfer’s series.
Described by the Wexford-born author as “‘Die Hard’ with fairies,” the books follow the adventures of 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 talkative and sarcastic fairy (Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit) to harness her magic to save his family. These are not the fairies of the bedtime stories – they’re dangerous.
Weinstein, who has been looking to bring the bestselling series to the big screen since 2001, will produce with Tribeca Productions partners Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal.
“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 the Weinstein. “I feel as though everything is coming full circle considering Bob De Niro 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. 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.”