Disney Casts Newcomer For Artemis Fowl Lead Role

Artemis Fowl is the latest franchise people from Disney are hoping to get money from and fans might comply. The series was/is fairly popular with younger audiences, featuring a kid that was somehow a master thief and his party of capable characters. Fairies are also involved, so there is a nice mix of fantasy and thieving to be had by everyone involved.

Disney has announced their lead star for the feature-film by Kenneth Bronaugh and it's a very interesting choice. Ferdia Shaw, a 12-year-old actor, will be playing the lead role of Artemis when the film comes out. Shaw is a relatively new talent, so it will be interesting to see if the folks at Disney can build a franchise around him.

Shaw will be joined by Josh Gad and Judi Dench. Gad will be a kleptomaniac dwarf named Mulch Diggums. Since he likes stealing, he should fit in with Artemis' team fairly well. Dench is Commander Root, a police fairy and a major supporting character in the book.

Here is the full press release from Disney:

Disney announced today initial casting for the live-action adaptation of "Artemis Fowl," which will be directed by Kenneth Branagh and produced by Branagh and Judy Hofflund.

The search for an actor to play Artemis Fowl was extensive, with casting director Lucy Bevan seeing over 1200 candidates for the part. Branagh chose Irish newcomer Ferdia Shaw, who will make his onscreen debut in the title role. Descended from a long line of criminal masterminds, 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl finds himself in a battle of strength and cunning against a powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father's disappearance.

Josh Gad ("Murder on the Orient Express," "Marshall," "Beauty and the Beast") has signed on for the role of Mulch Diggums, a kleptomaniacal dwarf who works for the fairies—and himself.

Academy Award winner Judi Dench ("Victoria & Abdul," "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," "Skyfall") takes on the role of Commander Root, the steely leader of the fairy police force (LEPrecon).

Lara McDonnell ("The Delinquent Season," "Love, Rosie," "The Walk Invisible") has been cast in the role of Captain Holly Short, the elf hero.

Nonso Anozie ("Cinderella," "The Grey," "Ender's Game") will play Butler, Artemis Fowl's formidable bodyguard.

Based on the bestselling book series by Eoin Colfer and with a screenplay by award-winning playwright Conor McPherson, "Artemis Fowl" is slated for release in U.S. theaters on August 9, 2019. Production will begin early next year in the U.K.

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