Walt Disney Studios and Harvey Weinstein haven’t worked together on a project since Mirimax closed its doors in 2005. But now the two are getting ready to reunite for a film adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s novel Artemis Fowl.
Described as fairies meet Die Hard, the live-action feature will be based on the first and second installments in Disney Publishing Worldwide’s best-selling children’s fiction series. Michael Goldenberg (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) will pen the screenplay, and Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal will executive produce.
Hit the jump for more info.
Here is the premise of the film,
Artemis Fowl is about a 12-year-old Artemis who is a millionaire, a genius – and above all, a criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy (Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit) to harness her magic to save his family. These aren’t the fairies of the bedtime stories – they’re dangerous.
The studio and the producer parted ways, although it wasn’t on the best of terms, when the Mirimax was mismanaged, resulting in the sale of the studio in 2005. Now the two have put their differences aside and working on a new project that could put an end to Disney’s live-action department’s streak of woes.
Of the announcement, Weinstein Company co-chairman Harvey Weinstein said:
“If you would have told me five years ago I would be producing a project with Disney I would have thought you were crazy. 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 and Teenage 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.”
Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn added:
“Harvey is one of the preeminent producers in the industry, with impeccable taste and creative instincts. 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.”
There’s no doubt that Disney would want to finish out the series, which spans eight novels, if the first film is deemed a success.
[Source: Disney]
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