Tax threat may force $250m film out

IRELAND will lose out on the biggest Hollywood film earmarked for the country unless the Government retains lucrative tax breaks for the industry.

The warning came from international renowned author Eoin Colfer, as a major Hollywood studio gears up to adapt his fantasy novel Artemis Fowl for the big screen.

The $250 million project is set to rival the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series.

Miramax Pictures has thrown its weight behind the project, along with Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein and Arthur Lattins of Hells Kitchen Films.

The books follow a young criminal mastermind, Artemis Fowl, who succeeds in capturing a leprechaun to steal her gold and then has to deal with the consequences.

The Wexford-based author had hoped that the bulk of the film would be set in his native town and county. He had agreed with Miramax that Ireland should certainly be a location, particularly as the book is set here, and that Irish actors would feature.

But the producers say they will shoot elsewhere unless they get confirmation by the end of next month that generous tax incentives for the film industry remain in place here.

“They say they can’t wait until the budget in December and they need confirmation now,” Mr Colfer said yesterday, as he made his way home from a film festival in Scotland.

“I’ve suggested various locations, including Johnstown Castle. The Film Commission is already in place in this area, and it has worked with people such as Mel Gibson and Stephen Spielberg with great success in the past,” he said.

As well as contributing significantly to the local economy, the production would also involve quite a number of Irish actors.

“Four million children have already read these books and I believe that many of them would like to come and visit the location on which the film was shot. I was always led to believe that the film would be done in Ireland, I’ve been doing a lot to promote the South East as a location for it.”

No official site has been selected yet for filming and no cast members have been approached, but at a meeting in London in the past fortnight, Miramax Pictures indicated that it was very interested in casting Irish actors for the main parts.

“My appeal now is that the Government would take this matter on board swiftly and give us a decision that would allow filming to go ahead,” said Mr Colfer.

“It is simply not a matter which can wait until the budget.”