If you’re director Kenneth Branagh and you are searching for the fierce commander of a fairy police force, who do you turn to? Do you go for some action hero? Perhaps someone with some gravitas and a commanding voice? Well, if you’re Branagh, the director of Disney’s upcoming “Artemis Fowl,” you hire 84-year-old Dame Judi Dench.
That’s right, the acclaimed, iconic actress is a fierce fairy commander in the upcoming adaptation of the popular children’s book series. And in the first look, courtesy of EW, we see just how much of a transformation Dench undergoes to portray the leader of the reconnaissance branch of the LEP, aka LEPrecon (see what they did there?).
Donning pointy ears and a costume that looks equal parts awesome and hilarious, Dench is giving it her all in this very odd choice of roles. But according to Branagh, the actress is perfect to portray this short-tempered leader.
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“When we started to rehearse, she leant forward, and her shoulders stooped and her voice dropped, and then suddenly this gravelly, Churchillian, curmudgeonly figure started to emerge,” Branagh said.
The director goes on to explain shooting the first scene featuring Dench, and hundreds of extras, as her character is revealed.
“I saw all of those actors suddenly, naturally go to attention when they saw Judi, who had this swagger and this cool, who had this great leather coat, who carried the authority quite so effortlessly,” says Branagh. “She walked out of the craft, looked up at the house, and said [in an Irish accent], ‘Top of the mornin’.’ It was a real sense of a memorable character walking into a movie and owning it, saying ‘I love my clothes, I love my look, I’m in charge, and I’m here to make mischief.’”
Even with a fun trailer, an all-star director, and a recognizable cast, it’s this first look at Dench’s character that has sold us on “Artemis Fowl.” Sure, the film might be yet another failed attempt to launch a new children’s franchise, but if anything, it’ll feature a pretty incredible actress in pointy ears and a ridiculous costume.
“Artemis Fowl” hits theaters August 9, 2019.