Disney Mounts Artemis Fowl Animated Series

Six years following its live-action film, Eoin Colfer’s hit fantasy saga Artemis Fowl is touted to return to the screen as a cartoon series for Disney Channel and Disney+. The author broke the news on Sunday, October 11, while marking two and a half decades of his debut novel during a panel at New York Comic Con. Disney has not yet announced the voice cast or premiere date.

Artemis Fowl To Be Re-Adapted By Disney

The series will trail the 13-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, who “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,” as the official logline states.

Kenneth Branagh’s 2020 adaptation skipped its planned theatrical debut for a direct-to-streaming release on Disney+ due to the pandemic. However, it was widely panned by fans and reviewers alike for stripping away the source material's core plot and rewriting Artemis as a standard protagonist rather than the ruthless, scheming prodigy of the books. In a rare move for proprietary content, Disney later scrubbed the movie from Disney+, leaving it accessible only via paid digital platforms like Apple TV and Prime Video—a clear sign the studio is distancing itself from the failed attempt. The repeat attempt promises a more faithful rendition.

“For more than two decades, Eoin Colfer’s ‘Artemis Fowl’ books have captivated readers around the world with unforgettable characters, imaginative world-building, and gripping adventures,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family. “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.”

Colfer added, “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.”

Since Colfer debuted the first Artemis Fowl novel in 2001, the series has sold over 35 million copies globally and has been translated into 48 languages. Colfer will executive produce the series alongside Ben Juwono and Colleen Evanson.