Disney Greenlights Animated Artemis Fowl TV Series With Author Eoin Colfer Producing

Disney is taking a second shot at Artemis Fowl, trading live-action filmmaking for animation and bringing original author Eoin Colfer directly into the production.

Disney Channel and Disney+ have greenlit an animated television series based on the fantasy books, produced by Disney Television Animation. Colfer announced the project on October 11, 2026, during the 25 Years of Artemis Fowl panel at New York Comic Con. Colfer will serve as an executive producer.

Showrunners and Creative Direction

Animation veterans Ben Juwono and Colleen Evanson lead the series as showrunners and executive producers. Juwono previously worked on Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and Big Hero 6: The Series. Evanson brings writing and production experience from DuckTales and Monsters at Work. Storyboard artist Moss Lawton handled early storyboard work on the pilot episode during development at Disney Television Animation.

Colfer endorsed the team adapting the books for television.

"I am proud and delighted to be part of the formidable team that is putting the Artemis Fowl animation on screen. Everyone is so talented and so positive that I feel certain the fairy world is in excellent hands," Colfer said.

Ayo Davis, President of Disney Kids & Family, said the adaptation aims to introduce new viewers while honoring existing readers. "For more than two decades, Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl books have captivated readers around the world with unforgettable characters, imaginative world-building, and gripping adventures," Davis said. "Bringing this beloved franchise to life as an animated series gives us the opportunity to introduce a new generation to Artemis' world while honoring the longtime fans who have cherished these stories for years."

Moving Past the 2020 Live-Action Movie

The animated series marks a reset after Disney's earlier adaptation. In June 2020, Disney released a live-action Artemis Fowl feature directed by Kenneth Branagh straight to Disney+. The film carried a reported production budget of $125 million, but faced intense criticism over major departures from the source material. It registered an 8 percent critic approval rating and a 19 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The animated series returns to the core story of the books. The premise confirmed by Disney follows 13-year-old criminal prodigy Artemis Fowl as he uncovers a hidden, high-tech underground society of fairies. He attempts to capture one and use magic to heal his dying mother and restore his family's fortune.

The greenlight coincides with a franchise milestone. The first Artemis Fowl novel was published in 2001, making 2026 the 25th anniversary of the franchise. The eight main novels and related spinoffs have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide across 48 languages.

Pending Details on Cast and Release Timing

Key production details remain unannounced. Disney has not set a release date or premiere window for the series on Disney Channel and Disney+. The studio has also yet to reveal the voice cast, episode runtimes, or the total episode order for the first season.