Update: Artemis Fowl casting
Things are looking grim. There are three points in the official first wave of casting that I must argue. One, the smallest problem, is the shorted and inaccurate summery of the first book “Descended from a long line of criminal masterminds, 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl 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 from Entertainment website’s online post on casting. Okay close, but actually Artemis is searching for the fairies because they are an untapped wealth of legends that has the books put it “ He still retained a childlike belief in magic tempered by an adult determination to exploit it.” He needs the money to search for his long missing father who disappeared after a dispute with the Russian mafia over smuggled pop.
But perhaps this simplified bit about the series is just that and no indicator of the movie plot.
Two, Mulch Diggums to be played by Josh Gad. From the characters he has played before it makes it hard to see him successfully pulling off such a different character. Gad’s other roles are more happy go lucky, Mulch is a crass humored dwarf of the underworld only thinking of himself (at least in the first book). To have Gad pull off such a character is testing my suspension of belief.
Three, the worst change from the books, Judi Dench is playing the hotheaded Commander Root. The obvious problem is that Root is male and making him female completely changes the story. Holly Short is the first Lep Recon officer in the fairy realms, showing how they are more sexist then humans at the time, being such is a big part of Holly’s character and why Root pushes her so much. Not because he wants he to fail, but because he wants understands the spotlight she is in. As the series progresses their relationship grows to almost father-daughter proportions. I see how film makers are trying to include women in high positions more often in film, but this is not where to do it. Colfer tackles it with other characters and in his own way. Such as Madam Ko who runs the bodyguard program Butler graduated from and Butler’s younger sister Juliet is taking. Also let’s not forget the greatest villain of the series Opal Koboi is a female pixie with a serious revenge issue. Who feels slighted by her family and society for not embracing her as a female genius. Changing Root, undermines so much of Holly’s character and her relationship with Root. They are taking away Holly’s biggest achievement and making her rank as officer pathetic.
On the side I will add not all is bad, I am excited to see the new Irish actor, Ferdia Shaw, as Aremis and Butler, played by Nonso Anozie in action. I hope their relationship of almost brothers, yet not quite because they are bodyguard and charge, is portrayed correctly.
Finally I finish with an appeal to fellow bookworms from butchered movie adaptations. Percy Jackson fans and Eragon lovers, and so many more, please in remembrance of your failed movies help us stop these big producers ruining good stories. This is for more then just Artemis Fowl, but all book to movie adaptions to come. Let our voices be heard! #SavetheBooks
But perhaps this simplified bit about the series is just that and no indicator of the movie plot.
Two, Mulch Diggums to be played by Josh Gad. From the characters he has played before it makes it hard to see him successfully pulling off such a different character. Gad’s other roles are more happy go lucky, Mulch is a crass humored dwarf of the underworld only thinking of himself (at least in the first book). To have Gad pull off such a character is testing my suspension of belief.
Three, the worst change from the books, Judi Dench is playing the hotheaded Commander Root. The obvious problem is that Root is male and making him female completely changes the story. Holly Short is the first Lep Recon officer in the fairy realms, showing how they are more sexist then humans at the time, being such is a big part of Holly’s character and why Root pushes her so much. Not because he wants he to fail, but because he wants understands the spotlight she is in. As the series progresses their relationship grows to almost father-daughter proportions. I see how film makers are trying to include women in high positions more often in film, but this is not where to do it. Colfer tackles it with other characters and in his own way. Such as Madam Ko who runs the bodyguard program Butler graduated from and Butler’s younger sister Juliet is taking. Also let’s not forget the greatest villain of the series Opal Koboi is a female pixie with a serious revenge issue. Who feels slighted by her family and society for not embracing her as a female genius. Changing Root, undermines so much of Holly’s character and her relationship with Root. They are taking away Holly’s biggest achievement and making her rank as officer pathetic.
On the side I will add not all is bad, I am excited to see the new Irish actor, Ferdia Shaw, as Aremis and Butler, played by Nonso Anozie in action. I hope their relationship of almost brothers, yet not quite because they are bodyguard and charge, is portrayed correctly.
Finally I finish with an appeal to fellow bookworms from butchered movie adaptations. Percy Jackson fans and Eragon lovers, and so many more, please in remembrance of your failed movies help us stop these big producers ruining good stories. This is for more then just Artemis Fowl, but all book to movie adaptions to come. Let our voices be heard! #SavetheBooks
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