Irish 10-Year-Old Lands Role of a Lifetime in Massive Disney Movie

Every child's dream.

A Kilkenny 10-year-old has beaten off competition from hundreds of young hopefuls to land the lead role in Disney's Artemis Fowl, due for release in 2019.

Ferdia Shaw will take on the titular role in the movie which will be adapted from Irish author Eoin Colfer's massively popular fantasy book series.

image courtesy of Lisa RIchards agency

He'll be in good company on set, as the movie also stars Dame Judi Dench, Frozen's Josh Gad, Games of Thrones' Nonso Anozie and fellow Irish actress Lara McDonnell.

Judy Dench will play fairy police force chief Commander Root

The book series revolves around a young criminal mastermind whose complicated relationship with the Fairy People takes him on a rollercoaster of adventure.

Producers held auditions in both Galway and Dublin earlier this year, searching for boys between the ages of 9 - 13, under 5ft 3ins and who could do an Irish accent.

Directed by Kenneth Brannagh, the movie is set to start filming in UK early next year.