Disney's ARTEMIS FOWL Will Get a Straight to Disney+ Release
Disney has announced that its feature film adaption of Artemis Fowl will not get a theatrical release. They’ve decided to instead release it directly on Disney+. I assumed Disney might end up doing this for some of their films, and this is the one that they are taking the leap with.
The sci-fi fantasy was scheduled to open in theaters on May 29th, but when the coronavirus pandemic came around, forced movie theaters to close down, and keep people locked away in their homes, everything in the entertainment industry changed.
Ricky Strauss, President, Content & Marketing, Disney+ said in a statement:
“With audiences largely unable to attend theatres in the current environment, we are thrilled to offer the premiere of ‘Artemis Fowl’ on Disney+. Director Kenneth Branagh and his spectacular cast take viewers right into the vibrant, fantasy world of the beloved book, which fans have been waiting to see brought to life onscreen for years. It’s great family entertainment that is the perfect addition to Disney+’s summer lineup.”
I’ve been looking forward to watching this movie. While it would have been nice to see on the big screen, I’ll gladly watch and enjoy it on Disney+!
The Kenneth Branagh-directed film is based on the book by Eoin Colfer, and it tells a “fantastical, spellbinding adventure that follows the journey of 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he seeks to find his father who has mysteriously disappeared. With the help of his loyal protector Butler, Artemis sets out to find him, and in doing so uncovers an ancient, underground civilization—the amazingly advanced world of fairies. Deducing that his father’s disappearance is somehow connected to the secretive, reclusive fairy world, cunning Artemis concocts a dangerous plan—so dangerous that he ultimately finds himself in a perilous war of wits with the all-powerful fairies.”
Ferdia Shaw takes on the role of the title character, while Farrell plays his criminal mastermind father. Lara McDonnell (Love, Rosie) plays Captain Holly Short, a feisty, spirited elf who is kidnapped by Artemis for a ransom of fairy gold. In the underground fairy world of Haven City, Dame Judi Dench (Skyfall) plays Commander Root, the leader of the reconnaissance division of the LEPrecon, the fairy police force, and Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast) plays Mulch Diggums, a kleptomaniac dwarf who attempts to help rescue Holly.
The film also features Nonso Anozie (Cinderella) as Butler, Tamara Smart (The Worst Witch) as Butler’s niece Juliet, and Miranda Raison (Murder on the Orient Express) as Artemis’s mother Angeline.
Disney also recently announced a bunch of new release dates for most of their upcoming Marvel films, Indiana Jones 5, Mulan, Jungle Cruise, Free Guy, and more.
Source: The Wrap