Kenneth Branagh Adapting “Artemis Fowl” for Disney

Another beloved series of fantasy novels is heading to the big screen, and this time, Sir Kenneth Branagh (Gilderoy Lockhart) is behind it! Variety is reporting that the actor has signed on to develop and direct a film adaptation of the Artemis Fowl series for Disney.

The Artemis Fowl series, written by Irish author Eoin Colfer, is described by Variety as

[… following] the brilliant and cunning 12-year-old eponymous criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl II, whose plot to extort gold from the secret Fairy People puts him directly in the cross-hairs of some of the most dangerous creatures on earth. Over the series, Fowl becomes a sort of antihero rather than a full-fledged villain, often having to work together with the fairies to stop a slew of treacherous megalomaniacs.

Irish playwright Conor McPherson is reportedly in talks to write the film’s screenplay, while Harvey Weinstein and Branagh are attached to produce the film. At present, the film is in early development, but it is likely to move forward.

The film adaptation of Artemis Fowl is not Branagh’s first time working with Disney. He also directed Disney’s live-action adaptation of Cinderella, released earlier this year, which featured Harry Potter alumna Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange).

For more on the film adaptation of Artemis Fowl, you can read the article from Variety here.

Have you read Artemis Fowl? Are you excited to see a film adaptation of it? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!