A live-action Eragon TV show is currently in development for Disney+.
According to Variety, the upcoming Eragon series will adapt author Christopher Paolini’s popular fantasy novels, The Inheritance Cycle. Eragon is the first novel in the series and forms the basis for the new show.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Eragon has been customized.
A live-action Eragon film debuted in 2006 but was critically panned. The film starred Ed Speleers as Eragon, Rachel Weisz as Saphira, Jeremy Irons as Brom, and John Malkovich as Galbatorix.
While it’s currently unknown if either of them will reprise their roles on the series, it seems unlikely. After all, the film only grossed $250 million on a reported budget of $100 million and was met with absolutely terrible reviews.
The film currently has a 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
According to IGN’s own review, “The sluggish direction and poor adaptation of this semi-decent but derivative fantasy tale will definitely disappoint all but the most thick-skinned and ardent fans.”
Eragon tells the story of the titular hero – a farm boy who lives with his uncle and cousin before being whisked away on an epic adventure when he unexpectedly finds a dragon egg… and raises the young beast once it hatches.
The novel Eragon was self-published by Paolini in 2002 before being republished in 2003. It was followed by Eldest in 2005, Brisingr in 2008, and Inheritance in 2011. A remake has been fan-supported since 2021, when the hashtag #EragonRemake Disney proposed a franchise reboot.
Uhhh… 😎 (You are all the best fans.) https://t.co/V1CLyePzw4
— Christopher Paolini (@paolini) July 25, 2022
The upcoming Eragon TV show will have Paolini as a co-writer. Bert Salke is on board as executive producer alongside 20th Television. While it’s believed that Paolini will also serve as showrunner, the series is still too early in development for an official decision.
Disney+ is also bringing the Percy Jackson series back to our screens with a new TV series that casts The Adam Project star Walker Scobell as the beloved hero.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. you can follow him Twitter.