Disney pushed back Artemis Fowl‘s theatrical release from this August to May 29, 2020, which moved its projected Disney+ release date to December 29, 2020.
The initial teaser trailer debuted last November, so the movie has been in the chamber for a while. It looks visually stunning under the direction of acclaimed filmmaker Kenneth Branagh.
So what’s the reason for the film’s belated arrival?
Disney’s Fox acquisition likely delayed “Artemis Fowl” release
Before digging into this release subplot, here’s a brief synopsis:
Artemis Fowl II, a young Irish criminal mastermind, kidnaps the fairy LEPrecon officer Holly Short for ransom to fund the search for his missing father in order to restore the family fortune.
IMDB
With the amount of movies Disney inherited from Fox, it makes sense some preexisting films got placed on the backburner.
Artemis Fowl may well be a strong box office surprise, though. It’s an adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s extremely popular novel series. Presumably, the film will focus on the first book, which is where it gets its title.
The fact that Colfer’s series stretches to eight suggests serious sequel potential. However, it’ll be contingent upon this initial big-budget production ($125 million) being a profitable success.
Release date delays aren’t often reason for optimism, but there are extenuating circumstances here. Plus, usually early months like January and February are the dumping grounds for big studios’ probable bombs.
Reading the tea leaves a bit, it seems Disney likes the product. Artemis Fowl releases a mere few weeks before summer, and it likely wouldn’t take that date if it wasn’t good.
4K/HDR/Dolby Atmos
The Mouse House is bringing out all the bells, whistles and stunning visuals, which means Artemis Fowl will be presented on Disney+ in 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos.
You won’t have to pay extra for higher quality, either. The $6.99 monthly price tag of Disney+ will offer the best possible presentation of the film in terms of video and audio quality.
Check out the Artemis Fowl teaser trailer below.