Artemis Fowl lures Weinstein, Disney

The live-action feature will be based on the first and second instalments in Disney Publishing Worldwide’s series by Eoin Colfer.

Michael Goldenberg adapts the screenplay about the 12-year-old millionaire criminal mastermind who gets in above his head when he kidnaps a fairy.

“With its balance of mystery, adventure and family appeal, Artemis Fowl is a natural fit for Disney,” said Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production president Sean Bailey. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with Harvey on this exciting project.”

“Harvey is one of the preeminent producers in the industry, with impeccable taste and creative instincts,” added The Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn. “I had a wonderful time working with Harvey during my tenure at Warner Bros, and I’m very happy to continue that relationship here at Disney.”

“If you would have told me five years ago I would be producing a project with Disney I would have thought you were crazy,” said Weinstein. “I feel as though everything is coming full circle considering Bob DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal brought me this book while I was still at Miramax and within hours I told them I wanted the rights to the film.

“I am thrilled to be reunited with Alan Horn who I worked with while he was at Warner Bros and we had tremendous success with The Aviator, Starsky And Hutch andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

“It is also exciting to partner with friends Alan Bergman, Sean Bailey and of course Bob Iger who has been incredibly generous to me over the years. This is a special project for me because my children absolutely love this book. This story is for everyone and there is no one better than Disney to make a film that will excite people young and old.”

The Artemis Fowl book series currently has more than 21m copies in print in 44 languages.

• FilmDistrict has shifted the release of its Oldboy remake from Oct 25 to Nov 27.