Disney’s Lord Of The Rings Fantasy Series Replacement Is Changing Network TV In A Bizarre Way

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A new fantasy series from Disney is generating buzz as a potential alternative to The Lord of the Rings. Fantasy stories have long been popular with dedicated fans, as the idea of escaping to a magical world and battling villains for survival and a greater purpose is universally appealing. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and the movies based on it are considered classics of the genre.

The popularity of The Lord of the Rings movies has encouraged other film studios to make fantasy adaptations. Now, there are plenty of options for viewers looking for something similar to Tolkien’s world. Disney’s upcoming series, Eragon, might be a good choice for fans, as both the 2006 film and Christopher Paolini’s The Inheritance Cycle books clearly take inspiration from The Lord of the Rings, with varying degrees of success.

I was excited to hear back in 2022 that Disney+ was considering a remake, but it seemed to get stuck in limbo for a long time. Thankfully, the Eragon TV adaptation is actually happening now! It’s a big deal, and honestly, it says something interesting about where TV is headed these days.

High Potential Loses Its 2-Season Showrunner To Eragon

Jessica Perez / ©ABC/Disney/ Courtesy Everett Collection

While the fantasy series Eragon likely won’t affect regular television, it’s worth noting a connection. The show isn’t the type of program typically aired on major networks these days, and it’s debuting on Disney+, not ABC. The link comes through the people working on both Eragon and another Disney+ show, High Potential, a police procedural starring Kaitlin Olson as Morgan Gillory.

It’s no surprise that ABC has ordered a third season of High Potential. Given the show’s strong ratings, renewal was widely expected. Along with the good news about season 3, ABC also announced that Todd Harthan will be stepping down as showrunner. However, this isn’t due to any conflict; he’s leaving to focus on the series Eragon.

News surfaced in February that Harthan and Todd Helbing would co-lead the upcoming Disney+ series. With work now gaining momentum on Eragon, Harthan is focusing on this high fantasy project instead of High Potential. While a release date for the series on Disney+ hasn’t been announced, this shift suggests that pre-production and filming will likely begin in the coming months.

How Todd Harthan’s High Potential Exit Can Shake Up The Show & Network TV As A Whole

Since its debut in 2024, Harthan has been the driving creative force behind High Potential. While many elements contribute to the show’s success, his work is a major reason for its popularity. Therefore, his departure will create significant difficulties for High Potential in season 3 and future seasons. ABC hasn’t announced a replacement yet, as Harthan’s contract with the series extends through the 2025-2026 television season.

This change in leadership comes at a crucial time for the popular show High Potential, and could significantly affect its direction. As ABC’s highest-rated scripted series, the show’s success is important to the network. Without the current leader, the story might evolve in ways that feel different from what fans expect. However, this change isn’t necessarily negative; it could also revitalize the show and attract even more viewers. Ultimately, the departure of this leader will bring some changes to High Potential.

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2026-03-07 09:58