Artemis Fowl movie in the works

Artemis Fowl
The movie is going to be a live-action adaption of the highly successful children's book series. Photo credit: Disney.

Beloved childhood book series Artemis Fowl is finally being made into a movie, and the casting is everything a fan could have hoped for.

The series by Eoin Colfer about the 12-year-old criminal genius who gets involved in a powerful underground fairy race sold millions of copies worldwide. Talks of a movie adaption were first broached with Miramax in 2001, but put on hold until Disney took the script.

Now Irish director and actor Kenneth Branagh is teaming up with Disney following his Cinderella debut, to direct (and possibly star in) the revived movie.

Unknown 12-year-old Irish actor Ferdia Shaw will play Fowl in the new film, according to a statement from Disney. He's going to be joined by some major names.

Perhaps the most exciting casting is of Academy Award-winner Judi Dench in the role of the leader of the fairy police, Commander Root, who was a male character in the books. Murder on the Orient Express actor Josh Gad will be playing Mulch Diggums, the kleptomaniacal dwarf who works for the fairy police force call.

Cinderella actor Nonso Anozie will play Butler, Artemis Fowl's formidable bodyguard.

Artemis Fowl is due for release in August 2019. 

Newshub.