Disney’s Eragon Remake Shows Harry Potter How It’s Done

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Fantasy is becoming incredibly popular on TV right now. We’re seeing this with shows like George R.R. Martin’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the upcoming Harry Potter reboot on HBO Max, and the successful revival of Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+, which is already renewed for a second season. Even Apple TV+ is getting into the genre with the Cosmere series, signaling a full-blown fantasy boom. But one great fantasy show hasn’t been getting the attention it deserves – until now.

Christopher Paolini’s The Inheritance Cycle, starting with the book Eragon, has been in development at Disney for a while. A movie adaptation of Eragon was released in 2006, but it wasn’t well-received, earning only a 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This led many to believe the story wasn’t very good, which is a misunderstanding. In fact, Eragon might be the only “Chosen One” fantasy series that truly gets the trope right.

Eragon Embodied The Chosen One Trope Better Than Any Other Fantasy Franchise

The “Chosen One” storyline can feel familiar, but it remains popular in stories. In Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, it initially appears that the discovery of a dragon egg is simply luck for the young farm boy, Eragon. He’s just a regular teenager from Carvahall with no connection to the king, dragons, or anyone who’s ridden them before. However, he ultimately becomes the only dragon rider in the land of Alagaesia.

When the tyrannical King Galbatorix learns about Saphira and Eragon, he dispatches the terrifying Ra’zac to Eragon’s home. Eragon’s uncle, Garrow, is killed, and his house is burned to the ground, leaving Eragon with nothing. This devastating loss motivates Eragon to fully embrace his destiny as a dragon rider, and he begins training with Brom, an old storyteller. Driven by a desire for revenge and with Saphira by his side, Eragon sets out on a dangerous quest to join the Varden – a rebellion made up of elves, dwarves, and humans.

Eragon’s path is filled with hardship, loss, and deep sorrow. Unlike many chosen heroes, he frequently loses companions rather than gaining them. Even as he grows stronger and more famous, he continues to make mistakes – notably in his relationships with Arya and a young girl named Elva, whom he unintentionally burdened with the pain of others.

The power of Eragon comes from carefully unveiled secrets. For example, Eragon discovers that Arya unintentionally sent him Saphira’s egg, but later learns there was more to it than just an accident. He also finds out he’s connected to Morzan, the ruthless leader of the Forsworn – a group of dragon riders who betrayed their kind. As the chosen hero, Eragon experiences significant development, but also faces hardship and vulnerability. He learns that being the Chosen One isn’t about escaping unscathed; it demands a real cost.

Many stories feature heroes who easily succeed with plenty of help, experiencing little real growth along the way. Eragon stands out because Christopher Paolini doesn’t make things easy for his protagonist. While Eragon receives guidance, he’s ultimately responsible for overcoming the enormous challenge of defeating King Galbatorix, saving the land of Alagaesia, and restoring the dragon riders.

Anyone familiar with the complete Inheritance Cycle understands just how moving Eragon’s story is, and how perfectly it captures the spirit of modern fantasy.

After A Failed Movie, Disney Is Working Hard To Bring Eragon Back To The Screen

The original Eragon film didn’t lead to sequels of the planned books – Eldest, Brisingr, and Inheritance. However, Disney has been considering a reboot of the series since 2022, and it looks like the show is finally moving forward, suggesting significant progress behind the scenes.

On February 4, 2026, it was announced that Todd Harthan (known for his work on High Potential and Crossover) and Todd Helbing (Superman & Lois, The Flash, Mortal Kombat: Legacy) will be co-showrunners and executive producers for the upcoming Eragon series, joining Christopher Paolini. The show’s story centers on a typical teenager chosen as the first Dragon Rider in over a century, who must connect with his dragon, learn magic, and fight a ruthless king who eliminated the Riders.

Based on what we know so far, the upcoming adaptation will focus heavily on the world of Eragon, a smart move since that’s the most compelling part of the books. Good news for fans: all four books in The Inheritance Cycle have been picked up by 20th Television to become a show. If done right, Eragon has the potential to become as popular and beloved as franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

As a fantasy fan, I’ve noticed a real shift in what audiences want. We’re past the days of heroes magically becoming powerful and prophecies conveniently solving everything. These days, we want to see the cost of being a hero, the weight of responsibility, and real consequences for choices made. For years, the Eragon books, or The Inheritance Cycle as a whole, got a bad rap, unfairly labeled as a lesser fantasy series. But revisiting it now, I realize that’s just not true. This isn’t some simple adventure; it’s a surprisingly mature and thoughtful story that doesn’t shy away from the emotional toll of saving the world. Honestly, I think this franchise deserves another look, and maybe, just maybe, it’s finally getting it.

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2026-02-10 07:39