Artemis Fowl (known in certain territories as Artemis Fowl: The Secret World [3] ) is a 2020 American science fantasy adventure film based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Irish author Eoin Colfer . It is directed by Kenneth Branagh , from a screenplay co-written by Conor McPherson and Hamish McColl . The film stars Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad , Tamara Smart, Nonso Anozie , Colin Farrell , and Judi Dench . The film details the adventures of Artemis Fowl II , a 12-year-old Irish prodigy who teams up with his faithful servant , a dwarf , and a fairy in order to rescue his father, Artemis Fowl I, who has been kidnapped by another fairy looking to reclaim an item the Fowl family has stolen. Originally intended to be launched as a franchise by Miramax in 2001, the film languished in development hell...