The Walt Disney Studios is pleased to announce that it is in development on the film adaptation of Artemis Fowl with producer Harvey Weinstein. The live-action feature will be based on the first and second installments in Disney Publishing Worldwide's best-selling children's fiction series by author Eoin Colfer. The screenplay is being written by Michael Goldenberg (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal will executive produce the project.

Here's what Sean Bailey, president of Walt Studios Motion Picture Production, had to say about the project.

"With its balance of mystery, adventure and family appeal, Artemis Fowl is a natural fit for Disney. We're looking forward to collaborating with Harvey on this exciting project."

The Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn also released the following statement.

"Harvey is one of the preeminent producers in the industry, with impeccable taste and creative instincts. I had a wonderful time working with Harvey during my tenure at Warner Bros., and I'm very happy to continue that relationship here at Disney."

Harvey Weinstein also released the following statement regarding working with Disney.

"If you would have told me five years ago I would be producing a project with Disney I would have thought you were crazy. I feel as though everything is coming full circle considering Bob De Niro and Jane Rosenthal brought me this book while I was still at Miramax and within hours I told them I wanted the rights to the film. I am thrilled to be reunited with Alan Horn who I worked with while he was at Warner Bros. and we had tremendous success with The Aviator, Starsky & Hutch and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It is also exciting to partner with friends Alan Bergman, Sean Bailey and of course Bob Iger who has been incredibly generous to me over the years. This is a special project for me because my children absolutely love this book. This story is for everyone and there is no one better than Disney to make a film that will excite people young and old."

Artemis Fowl is about a 12-year-old Artemis who is a millionaire, a genius - and above all, a criminal mastermind. But Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy (Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit) to harness her magic to save his family. These aren't the fairies of the bedtime stories - they're dangerous.

The Artemis Fowl book series currently has more than 21 million copies in print in 44 languages worldwide.