I’ve read a lot of books. A lot. The problem with reading a lot of books though, is that it generally also means you’ve missed out on reading a lot of other books. Hell, sometimes you barely even know of some of them because you’re too obsessed with something else. For example, Irish author Eoin Colfer’s best-selling Artemis Fowl book series about the eponymous 12-year old criminal mastermind antihero.
I will admit straight-up that I actually knew of the eight-strong book series in name only (in my defense, I was 20 years old when the first book released in 2001 and it was aimed at the YA crowd) up until about a couple days ago when Alessandro pointed out that there was a movie adaptation on Disney’s release schedule for 2019. And even then, the only thing extra that I learned was that veteran Kenneth Branagh (Thor, Murder on the Orient Express) was directing it. Well, now I actually also know what it looks like as Disney has released the first trailer for it, introducing the titular “descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he finds himself in a battle of strength and cunning against a powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father’s disappearance.” Check it out below.
Well that looks like… well, that could actually swing either to good or bad. The visuals are clearly polished and Branagh knows his way behind a camera, but it could also be kind of silly. Of course, I am kind of in the dark on this whole franchise so it will be interesting to here how fans react to this.
FYI, that’s actually the voice of Dame Judi Dench you’re hearing there as Commander Root, while newcomer Ferdia Shaw plays the young Artemis Fowl himself. Also in the cast is Disney regular Josh Gad (who can be glimpsed briefly in the trailer), Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, and Nonzo Anozie. The film is scheduled for release on 9 August 2019.
Last Updated: November 27, 2018
The Big Bad Wolf
November 27, 2018 at 16:37
This.
My movie.
Hands off my movie.
Kapitan Balalaika
November 27, 2018 at 17:08
Damn it. I like what I see.
Original Heretic
November 28, 2018 at 06:55
Oh hell yeah!!! These books are so cool, so damn happy they’re getting the proper high budget movie treatment.
Original Heretic
November 28, 2018 at 07:06
And Kervyn, shame on you. You read more YA fantasy fiction (and I’m just saying that due to personal interest). Very often, behind the simplistic style veneer, you find some incredible stories.
Other times, granted, they can be trash.
The Big Bad Wolf
November 28, 2018 at 09:13
There is a flipsiide to this though. YA fiction is by design highly commercialized, meaning that there is a greater preference put on marketability over general quality. It’s how something like the Divergent series got so big, and the bane of my existence, Ready Player One.
Original Heretic
November 28, 2018 at 09:24
They tend to get really big once the movies get made. YA stuff tends to translate well to movies, for the most part.
But there are so many YA novels out there that get optioned for movies, but then they never actually get made.
I liaised with an editor in the US earlier this year, who mentioned to me that she’d just read a sequel novel to one that had been optioned. But there’s been no hint of it in the media. These things take time.
What I currently find quite irritating is that she told me this information in relation to my novel (which she had just provided a critique for). She flat out tells me my work is superior.
And the irritating part? That I am STILL working to get it published. Just can’t get anyone to bite.
The Big Bad Wolf
November 28, 2018 at 09:28
Sorry to hear, mate. That sucks.
Original Heretic
November 28, 2018 at 09:32
Thanks man, but it’s par for the course in that industry. It’s so difficult to break into the market, but once you do, then you’re set.
The work I mentioned above (the one mine is apparently better than) is by an already established author. Easy for her to get it out there and all.
All I need to do is get this one out, just this one. Then, oh god y’all better be careful, it’s gonna open the floodgates.