The Artemis Fowl series of children's fantasy books by Irish author Eoin Colfer will be adapted into a feature film by Disney. 

The film will cover the first two books in the series and the Weinstein production company says it will be helmed by Michael Goldenberg, the screenwriter of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Artemis Fowl has proven a hit in Ireland and around the world with over 21 million copies sold and it's hoped the Hollywood adaptation could be equally successful. 

Robert de Niro introduced Weinstein to the books

The film will be the first collaboration between Disney and film mogul Harvey Weinstein since a falling-out in 2005.

In a statement, Weinstein said:"If you would have told me five years ago I would be producing a project with Disney I would have thought you were crazy."

He added that he was introduced to the Artemis Fowl books, about a 12-year-old criminal mastermind, by actor Robert De Niro and film producer Jane Rosenthal.

"Within hours I told them (De Niro and Rosenthal) I wanted rights to the film," Weinstein said.