Disney’s 2020 Fantasy Flop Officially Gets Animated Reboot

The wait is over! Disney has officially greenlit an animated Artemis Fowl series. It comes six years after the 2020 live-action adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl books. According to Disney‘s official press release, the author himself announced the animated series during the “25 Years of Artemis Fowl” panel at New York Comic Con. The first book in his Artemis Fowl series marked 25 years this year.

Colfer said at the event, “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.”

The novel series was first adapted for the screen with Disney’s 2020 live-action film starring Ferdia Shaw. However, the movie struggled to score with viewers, with many finding it a disappointing adaptation of the best-selling novel.

Everything We Know So Far About Disney’s Artemis Fowl Series

Ferdia Shaw as Artemis Fowl in live-action | Credit: Disney

According to Disney, “the action-adventure fantasy series follows 13-year-old genius Artemis Fowl as he uncovers an underground world of armed and dangerous — and surprisingly high-tech — fairies as he launches a plan to capture one and steal its magic to heal his dying mom and save his family.”

Colfer is involved in the animated series as an executive producer. Joining him is Emmy winner Ben Juwono ( Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur ) and Colleen Evanson (DuckTales). Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family, has said, “Bringing this beloved franchise to life as an animated series gives us the opportunity to introduce a new generation to Artemis’ world while honoring the longtime fans who have cherished these stories for years.” As of now, the studio has not announced an official release date.

The first book in the Artemis Fowl series was published in 2001. Since then, it has received overwhelming love from readers and fans all over the world, with 35 million copies sold and translations into 48 languages.

However, despite the novel’s popularity, Disney’s first screen adaptation did not fare well. Fans were not satisfied with the movie turning Fowl into a conventional hero trying to rescue his father. The books portray him as a criminal mastermind who started out as an antagonist. The overall storytelling also failed to score with viewers.

Do you think the animated series could become a better screen adaptation of Artemis Fowl? Let us know.