The 2002 young adult novel was first self-published by Paolini’s family before being republished by Knopf in 2003. The hit novel was the third-best-selling children’s hardback book in 2003 and was followed by the release of the second book in “The Inheritance Cycle” entitled Eldest in 2005. The fantasy-based adventure continued with the release of the third novel Brisingr in 2008, and the series’ fourth novel Inheritance in 2011.
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Per Variety, Disney Plus will bring in Paolini to serve as co-writer for the developing Eragon series. The story centers its focus around a farmboy named Eragon and his discovery of an egg that hatches a dragon. Eragon eventually builds a solid connection with the dragon, which he decides to name Saphira. With the help of his mentor, Brom, Eragon learns the skills needed to become a Dragon Rider, an ancient order thought to be extinguished by the evil king Galbatorix.
The development of the Disney Plus series, however, is not the first time Eragon has been adapted for the screen. The novel was first adapted for the screen in 2006 with the theatrical release of the 20th Century Studios film Eragon, which starred Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Rachel Weisz, and John Malkovich. The film was not received well, earning a 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, which ultimately led to the series’ on-screen discontinuation.
Admirers of the young adult novel began using the hashtag #EragonRemake in 2021 to strategically nudge Disney to make a series out of the beloved novel to better represent the story than the disappointing 2006 film. If the series is able to pass the cycle of early development, it would become the newest addition to the young adult novel content on the streamer. Disney Plus is currently bringing audiences a series based on the Rick Riordan Percy Jackson novels.
Casting decisions for the series have not surfaced but should begin to once the inner workings of the series become more fully developed. The performance of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series may dictate what happens with Eragon moving forward, but only time will tell as these things play themselves out down the road. It’ll be interesting to see who Disney Plus brings on to direct the developing series, and the direction the studio will take with the notable young adult novel series.
Eragon is in early development at Disney Plus.
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Source: Variety
