Kenneth Branagh referred to 'The Godfather' to draw father-son relationship in 'Artemis Fowl'

For filmmaker Kenneth Branagh, best approach to present author Eoin Colfer's young protagonist in "Artemis Fowl" was through an intimate-yet-distanced far-son story.

To execute this plan, actor-director referred to Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 masterpiece " Godfar".

Branagh said his film explores a trajectory similar to that of Michael Corleone in " Godfar" who is brought into terrifying family business reluctantly.

"He has to decide wher he's going to do what y asked him to do or t, wher he's going to enjoy it, wher he's going to continue to do it and perhaps even surprise himself by being very good at it and that he enjoys it," Branagh said in response to a question from PTI during a virtual group interview.

"I wanted our origin story to particularly live through this idea of far and son connection. It is re in 'Thor' and in lots of films that I've me. I don't kw why, but maybe I just h a very strong connection with my own far and I'm always trying to kind of work that story out," he ded.

59-year-old filmmaker is a master in apting books for big screens with an extensive filmography that features critically-acclaimed aptations of Shakespearan trdies like "Henry V" (1989), "Much o About thing" (1993), "Ollo" (1995) and "Hamlet" (1996).

Besides Bard, Branagh has also successfully me movies based on works of prominent artistes like Wolfgang Ameus Mozart and Agatha Christie.

With "Artemis Fowl", director takes a dive into magical world of fairies, dwarves, and centaurs as he presents story of titular criminal mastermind, played by Ferdia Shaw, who goes to great lengths to rescue his far from evil forces.

In his quest, young prodigy finds his allies in his butler Domovoi (nso Azie), elven officer Holly Short (Lara McDonnell) and giant dwarf Mulch Diggums (Josh G). Also featuring Judi Dench and Colin Farrell, "Artemis Fowl" releases on June 12 on Disney+ Hotstar.

Branagh said he was drawn to idea of crafting an origin story about a character unfamiliar to audiences, something similar to what he attempted with his 2011 superhero movie "Thor".

"When you're introducing a character that may t be kwn to everybody who is aren't aware of books or comics or whatever, n I enjoy idea of creating an origin story. This is something that appealed to me when I me 'Thor'.

"re's a boy who's at school and who n transforms into what Eoin essentially wrote and as he puts it, into a Bond villain, an 11-years-old Bond villain. I wanted this film to be for those who weren't aware of books, a journey of that happening," he said.

But filmmaker was also cautious in his approach as he did t want audiences to feel a detachment with character because of his privileged background.

"He's privileged boy living in an ermous house with great privileges and we wanted to avoid idea of disconnecting audience by making him somebody who is removed from us and is precious.

"For a popular movie like this, I felt we needed to see him in a more human context from beginning, particularly in relation to his concern for his far."

director said young boy's journey in film sort of enables him to "negotiate his uniqueness and his difference".

"re is so much for audience to take in like separate worlds, fairies, mythology, Ireland, his intelligence, breaking fairy code. It's a ton of stuff.

"So somehow cinema translation h to find a way for him to become Michael Corleone by end of movie without patronising audience or throwing out too many things from book," Branagh ded.

director is keeping his fingers crossed but hopes viewers like world he has created.

"It's interesting because sometimes I can't predict. What I'm thrilled by is when audiences surprise me. I really hope that it exhilarates m way it did me. I think that re are great stories about Artemis and Holly to be told from books.

"It would be great to do more of m. So I hope takeaway is 'Hey, I want to kw what happens when y go on that next venture'," Branagh ded.

(Im - AP)