Every book lover experiences the same trepidation while waiting for a big screen adaptation of their favorite piece of literature. Will the movie “look” right? How much will the story change from the novel? Do the people making it know how important this is to me? They are all valid concerns, but they are ones readers of Artemis Fowl can feel better about now that Disney has released the first teaser for the film. It looks like a faithful adaptation that might even exceed fans’ expectations.
This moody, mysterious first look at the Kenneth Branagh-directed film is set to Radiohead’s haunting “Decks Dark.” It starts with sweeping shots of human life on Earth’s surface, including the massive estate of the Fowl family, before giving us a tantalizing glimpse of the unseen world of fairies, gnomes, and other magical creatures deep below the ground. We also hear a dire warning from one of those not-so-mythic figures delivered to “12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw), a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he finds himself in a battle of strength and cunning against a powerful, hidden race of fairies who may be behind his father’s disappearance.”This is obviously just a teaser that only hints at the plot, and it’s still possible there will be major changes to the story, but it definitely “looks” right, possibly even better than we imagined. And at the very least that tells us the people making it know how important it is to fans.We’re always going to have concerns about any beloved book adaptation until we see it, but now we’re starting to believe we don’t have much to worry about.The film, which also stars Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, as well as Josh Gad and Judi Dench, opens next summer, August 9th, 2019.What do you think of this first teaser? Did it live up to your expectations? Tell us why in the comments section below.Images: Disney