Disney+ Officially Remaking Harry Potter’s Original Replacement With New Series

Disney is giving Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl another shot.

Colfer’s fantasy series began with the 2001 publication of Artemis Fowl, four years after J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone introduced readers to the Wizarding World. The eight-book series follows young criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl and a hidden civilization of technologically advanced fairies. The books became a major success, but Disney’s first attempt to adapt the franchise in 2020 was met with a much different response.

During the 25 Years of Artemis Fowl panel at New York Comic Con, Colfer announced that Disney+ and Disney Channel have officially greenlit an animated television series based on Artemis Fowl. The author will serve as an executive producer alongside Ben Juwono (Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur) and Colleen Evanson (DuckTales). A release date has not yet been announced. Meanwhile, the first poster was shared:

The action-adventure series follows the titular 13-year-old protagonist as he discovers an underground world of armed, technologically advanced fairies. Hoping to heal his dying mother and save his family, Artemis launches a plan to capture one and steal its magic.

With Colfer serving as an executive producer on the series, the author will have a direct role in the latest adaptation of his books. He expressed confidence in the team bringing the fairy world to animation, stating:

“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 new series arrives six years after Disney released its live-action Artemis Fowl movie. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the 2020 adaptation starred Ferdia Shaw as Artemis alongside Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad, Judi Dench, Colin Farrell, and Nonso Anozie.

The movie was originally planned for theaters before being released directly on Disney+ in June 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Reviews of Artemis Fowl were brutally negative, landing a low 8% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Josh Gad as Mulch Diggums cracking a safe in Artemis Fowl
Colin Farrell as Artemis Fowl’s father in Artemis Fowl
Image via MovieStillsDB
Artemis Fowl wearing a suit and sunglasses

Artemis Fowl had previously been viewed as a potential replacement for Harry Potter, with both franchises centering on young characters and expansive hidden magical worlds. However, Artemis’ intelligence, criminal tendencies, and morally gray characterization set Colfer’s protagonist apart from Harry Potter.

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Disney’s 2020 movie made major changes from Colfer’s books, most notably softening Artemis from the young criminal mastermind introduced in the novels. The adaptation also altered his father’s story, combined material from the first two books, and introduced the Aculos, a magical artifact created specifically for the movie.

Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, said the animated series will introduce the franchise to a new audience while also keeping longtime readers in mind:

“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.”

Artemis Fowl joins Disney+’s growing animated lineup alongside upcoming series Warrior Cats, Journey, and the new era of Kingdom Hearts. Disney has not yet announced when the new Artemis Fowl series will premiere.