Ever since Harry Potter's cinema adventures came to an end in 2011 with Deathly Hallows Part 2, movie studios have struggled to find a family fantasy franchise to replace J K Rowling's boy wizard. Young Adult tales such as Twilight, The Hunger Games and Divergent have filled a gap, but only to a degree. Even Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has not quite conjured the magic that Harry and his Hogwarts pals managed.
So you could be forgiven for sensing the excitement around new adventure tale Artemis Fowl. "There has not been a Harry Potter in a long time, a new Harry Potter," says Josh Gad, who co-stars in this new big-budget Disney-backed effort.
"This feels like the answer to that. I cannot tell you how many people come up to me who tell me how important the Artemis Fowl books were to them as a kid."
That is hardly surprising, given that Eoin Colfer's fantasy book series has sold more than 25 million copies in 44 languages. Directed by esteemed British actor-filmmaker Kenneth Branagh (who enjoyed his own screen time in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), Artemis Fowl is the story of the titular 12-year-old (Ferdia Shaw), whose search for his missing father (Colin Farrell) brings him into a world of fantastical creatures – including Gad's giant dwarf Mulch Diggums.
With Branagh calling it a "siege movie", this ties into Colfer's description of his first book as "Die Hard with fairies", in reference to the skyscraper-set action classic.
There may be magic, but it's a long way from Rowling's world. While the fairies, led by Dame Judi Dench's pointy-eared Commander Root, live in a high-tech underground world called Haven City, Artemis and his bodyguard Butler (Nonso Anozie) sport sharp black suits reminiscent of Men in Black. Branagh even cites Francis Coppola's seminal mobster film The Godfather.
“Please do not take this too literally,” he says. “Michael Corleone, as you may recall, at the beginning of the first film … he is not entirely aware of what Dad does. And by the end of the picture he has to face up to ‘Do I do some of this as well? Do I believe in it? Am I behind it?’ I hasten to add we are in a world that offers a different kind of fun and enjoyment and adventure and pace.”
Nevertheless, it does highlight the idea that Artemis belongs to a criminal dynasty. Working on a screenplay by playwright Conor McPherson, Branagh admits to treading carefully with the idea, as Artemis discovers “the secret business practices of his father”. This is a Disney film after all, where anti-heroes are not always easily embraced.
“We try to find the centre and the spirit of the book,” says Branagh. “Does Artemis think being villainous or being a criminal is good?”
What it does show is that Artemis Fowl is the more anarchic side of the coin to the so-called Potter universe.
Here is Josh Gad in character:
“In many ways, Artemis is almost the antithesis to Harry,” says Gad. “Whereas Harry is going on this journey of discovery, along the way becoming a little bit darkened by his experiences, Artemis starts almost at the end of Harry’s journey.
"Artemis is wise beyond his years, does not have the magical abilities of Harry, so has to compensate with an intellect that allows him to tap into magic.”]
With eight books written by Colfer, there is certainly scope for taking Artemis on further cinematic journeys. Until recently, the $125 million movie was destined for the big screen, but the Covid-19 pandemic led the studio to announce a premiere on its Disney+ streaming channel instead.
It is a shrewd move, one that will probably enable the platform to gain more subscribers than the 50 million who are already signed up.
Whether Branagh will return for a second outing remains to be seen, although him directing 2015's Cinderella shows he is a strong part of "the Disney family".
Above all, he promises his Artemis Fowl will be a rapid-fire adventure. "It's a miraculous and beautiful thing," he says, "[one] you might want out of an escapist entertainment – which is to be moved and diverted with excitement and drama – can all happen in a breathlessly compact space. That is what I'm aiming for."
Artemis Fowl is available on OSN streaming and OSN Movies First from Saturday, June 13
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Nashrah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Mutaqadim, Riccardo Iacopini, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Jose Santiago, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dalil Al Carrere, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Jayide Al Boraq, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Semi-final fixtures
Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today
Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
Mountain%20Boy
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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THE%20SPECS
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
