Artemis Fowl movie will be based on first book only, says author

So much for two for the price of one!

Eoin Colfer confirmed that Disney’s upcoming Artemis Fowl film will only adapt the first Artemis Fowl novel in a recent video Q&A with fansite Artemis Fowl Confidential.

Fans previously believed that the movie would combine the plots of the first two books — and that was the plan for a long time, according to Colfer. But apparently, the movie’s director, Kenneth Branagh, signed on with a different idea in mind.

“For many years it was going to be the first two books,” Colfer said. “But Kenneth Branagh decided there was more than enough content for a movie in the first book.”

Colfer explained that the movie will better reflect the structure of the first book, which was written as a standalone novel — complete with a beginning, middle, and end — in the event that he wouldn’t get the chance to continue the series.

And that wasn’t the only thing Colfer had to say about the movie.

He also addressed one of the biggest book-to-movie changes: how Commander Julius Root — a male character in the books — will be female in the adaptation, portrayed by actress Judi Dench.  Colfer said he’s excited to see her on screen. He admits he was initially hesitant about the change, but changed his mind after seeing Dench in action.

“I saw, like, five seconds of her doing Root and it’s the funniest thing. She’s as hard as nails but she’s so funny, deadpan,” he said.

You can watch Colfer’s entire video interview here:

Disney opted to adapt Colfer’s bestselling books in 2013. Eight books compose the Artemis Fowl book series, which follows a young criminal who discovers and interferes with a secret underground society of fairies, pixies, dwarves, and centaurs.

The Artemis Fowl movie is expected to hit theaters in August 2019.