A live-action TV series “Eragon” is in early development on Disney+, Variety has learned exclusively from sources.
The series would be based on Christopher Paolini’s series of young adult novels “The Inheritance Cycle”, with “Eragon” being the first of four books in that series.
According to sources, Paolini will co-write the series. Bert Salke will executive produce under his Co-Lab 21 banner, with 20th Television producing. Salke is currently under a global deal with Disney Television Studios, of which 20th TV is a part.
Representatives for Disney and Paolini did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
“The Inheritance Cycle” tells the story of a farmer named Eragon who discovers an egg that hatches into a dragon he names Saphira. Through their bond and the help of his mentor Brom, Eragon learns to be a Dragon Rider, an ancient order long thought to have been wiped out by the evil King Galbatorix. Eragon and Saphira set out to defeat Galbatorix and free the land of Alagaësia from his tyranny.
“Eragon” was first published in 2002 before being republished by Knopf in 2003. It was followed by “Eldest” in 2005, “Brisingr” in 2008 and “Inheritance” in 2011. The entire series has proven incredibly popular, with over 41 million copies sold worldwide.
If the project moves forward, it wouldn’t be the first time “Eragon” has been adapted for the screen. The book was previously adapted into a film of the same name in 2006 with Ed Speleers as Eragon, Rachel Weisz as the voice of Saphira, Jeremy Irons as Brom, and John Malkovich as Galbatorix. The film was widely panned by critics upon its release and grossed approximately $250 million at the worldwide box office against a $100 million budget. In 2021, fans of the books began using the hashtag #EragonRemake in an effort to get Disney to produce a version of the series given their disappointment with the film.
“Eragon” would also be the last high-profile YA novel series to be adapted into a Disney+ series. The streamer is currently working on a series version of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books starring Walker Scobell in the title role.
Paolini is repped by WME and Writers House.
Note: An earlier version of the story stated that Paolini would co-showrunner the series, but it is now understood that the project is in such early stages that no official decision has been made.