Disney’s first teaser for Artemis Fowl was released today. The film is coming August 9, 2019. Kenneth Branagh will direct the film based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer. I've actually never read it, though I've came really close many times. That said, I really have no idea what I was looking at in this teaser. I've always thought the synopsis sounded cool. Which we get again in the teaser description. Where they say it, "..follows 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, a 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." This sounds awesome, judging from the teaser this looks like it's going to walk a dangerous line. A line very few have pulled off. The first that comes to mind is Harry Potter . Those films danced on a thin line between being a children's film, & not so much. That's a really hard thing to do too. If it's too juvenile you lose your adult audience. Which just so happens to be the people who grew up with this series. I know many adults who still haven't made it past The Sorcerer's Stone just due to the fact they thought the whole series would be geared towards children. However, it still has to be accessible to a younger audience at the same time, to keep them growing up with said series. Could you imagine if the first Potter film had the same dark overtones as the fourth? Kids would have ran away, & never wanted to see it again. They'd have been horrified. So I'm very curious to see how this unfolds. The teaser has definitely done its job, & peaked my curiosity even more so than it was. I'd be really curious to see what fans of the series think. I'm sure there's some inside things in there just for them. The film stars Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, with Josh Gad, and Judi Dench. Judy Hofflund and Kenneth Branagh are producing with Angus More Gordon and Matthew Jenkins serving as executive producers, with a screenplay by Conor McPherson. Can't go wrong with Gad & Dench. I'm pretty excited to see some more of this. I'm hoping an actual full length trailer can boost my curiosity to full blown excitement, but we'll have to see. This teaser has done its job though. It has peaked my curiosity, & I want to see more. What did y'all think? Anyone out there who read these? I'd love to know how this first look stands up to the pictures that were in your head. Anyway, put it in the comments, like, & share.
Disney Reveals Cast For "Artemis Fowl"
This might wind up being a literal case of don't judge a book by it's cover. I wrote off this series when it came out just based on it's cover art looking like another Harry Potter ripoff. Now I'm seeing this synopsis, & I'm thinking to reconsider not reading them. Artemis Fowl is a criminal that kidnaps one of the fairyfolk for the ransom of their gold, putting him on the radar of LEPrecon or the Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance Unit. Definitely not Potter, but seems it could be just as magical, & now there's an official cast. Kenneth Branagh will be taking the helm with a newcomer Ferdia Shaw to take the title role. This new attitude Disney has for casting the lead role to an unknown has been going for awhile, & absolutely love it. How better to get behind a character than having a fresh face to do so? Not to mention, we know we're getting the best out of this time, over 1200 candidates that tried out. Also announced were Josh Gad playing a kleptomaniacal dwarf, Judi Dench as Commander Root, leader of the police force, Lara McDonnell as Captain Holly Short, & Nonso Anozie as Butler, Fowl's bodyguard. Other than my feelings on the unknown, I really can't make a decision on the rest of the casting without knowing the story. I will say this though, you add Josh Gad & Judi Dench to anything, & you have not made a mistake at all. Do y'all have any thoughts on this casting? Especially anyone who has read the series, have they nailed it? Put it in the comments, like, & share.
Disney Throws Us Some New & Updated Release Dates
Disney released the newest upcoming release date line-up, & it now includes dates for Aladdin, Christopher Robin, Artemis Fowl & more. I was just going take the easy way out & list the new ones, but I figured why not list the whole thing? Here's Disney's upcoming release line up:
- Thor: Ragnarok (November 3, 2017): Literally already have tickets for this one.
- Coco (November 22, 2017): I was worried at first with this being so close to the material of Book of Life, but I can't get enough of what I've seen so far.
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (December 15, 2017): Every time the trailer for this film plays I stop what I'm doing. Doesn't matter where I am. I can't wait for this.
- Black Panther (February 16, 2018): I didn't know much about the Black Panther until I watched the cartoon mini-series from awhile before the MCU. I loved that series though. Hoping this follows suit.
- A Wrinkle in Time (March 9, 2018): I'm not sure what to think of this yet. The trailer showed they've definitely got the means & the budget to make this, this time around. It's a very intriguing story.
- Dolphins (April 20, 2018): Saw my first DisneyNature film in theaters with the China one this year, & I'm thinking that's going to become our new Earth Day thing. Beautiful film.
- Avengers: Infinity War (May 4, 2018): Can this just happen already?
- Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Story (May 25, 2018): Hopefully this movie will overcome it's many developmental problems & have a name by the time it's released.
- Incredibles 2 (June 15, 2018): Why have we waited so long? This should've been a thing already.
- Untitled Christopher Robin Project (August 3, 2018): This is probably one of the most intriguing films on this list. This will either be great or just wrong on so many levels. Love Ewan McGregor though.
- The Nutcracker & the Four Realms (November 2, 2018): I had never heard of this until today, but with Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, & Morgan Freeman, I will make a point to hear more.
- Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 (November 21, 2018): Loved the first. Heard the sneak peek at D23 was great.
- Mary Poppins Returns (December 25, 2018): Fingers crossed. It's been a long time. Emily Blunt & Lin-Manuel Miranda though? It's gotta be good right?
- Dumbo (March 29, 2019): Tim Burton? Really? Have you heard about the new story? This is the one on this list, if any, that I just don't know about this one working at all.
- Untitled DisneyToon Studios Film (April 12, 2019): Aviation. That's everything known about this movie. I have more faith in that than Dumbo.
- Live-Action Aladdin (May 24, 2019): This one is shaping up to be ever so strange. I have to see it just for that fact. Can all the peculiar choices work?
- Toy Story 4 (June 21, 2019): Can I get tickets for this now? Only question I have is will this coincide with the opening of Toy Story Land?
- Artemis Fowl (August 9, 2019): I kinda see this as Disney's answer to Harry Potter. I hope this is good enough to make me want to read the books as well.
- Nicole (November 8, 2019): This is the weird daughter of Santa Claus movie starring Anna Kendrick. This thing is still happening.
- Star Wars: Episode IX (December 20, 2019): Newest test in J.J. Abrams ending something as good as he begins them.
Any of these stand out? Any of these you want to go away? Hit the links for everything heard so far, & then put your thoughts in the comments, like, & share.