Disney set the streaming -only premiere date for live -action sci -fi fantasy Artemis Fowl on its Disney Plus service worldwide, hoping it gives more juice to the subscription VOD product while all of the theaters are closed. Artemis Fowl, directed by Kenneth Branagh, will be exclusively available on Disney Plus beginning on Friday, June 12th. It had originally been set for a May 29th theatrical debut. Based on the best -selling book by Irish author Ian Culfer, Artemis Fowl follows the journey of a 12 -year -old criminal mastermind as he desperately tries to save his kidnapped father. Artemis must infiltrate an ancient underground civilization of fairies and track down the Oculus, the fairies' most powerful and coveted magical device, to pay the ransom. In a statement, Branagh said that Artemis Fowl would be as proud as I am that families around the world will now be able to enjoy his first amazing screen adventures together on Disney Plus. Artemis Fowl stars newcomer Ferdia Shaw in the title role, alongside Laura Macdonald, Josh Gad, Tamara Smart, Nonso Anozzi, Josh Maguire, Nikesh Patel, and Adrian Scarborough, with Colin Farrell and Judi Dench. Branagh and Judi Hofflin are producing, with Angus Moore Gordon and Matthew Jenkins serving as executive producers. Connor McPherson and Hamish McCall wrote the screenplay. Amid the COVID -19 crisis, Disney has postponed nearly every one of its forthcoming movie releases, including Black Widow, Mulan, The New Mutants, The Eternals, Jungle Cruise, and Indiana Jones 5. The media conglomerate is betting that Artemis Fowl will draw more subscribers into Disney Plus, which surpassed 50 million paying customers worldwide in its first five months of service.