Following the lead of several other fantasy reboots, Disney is developing an Eragon TV series based on Christopher Paolini's fantasy saga, The Inheritance Cycle. Eragon and its sequels follow the title character, who discovers a dragon egg in the forest near his home and becomes a rider bonded to the dragon Saphira. Eragon finds himself in the middle of a war to save the kingdom of Alagaësia.

Disney faces the challenges of adapting the novels' extensive world-building, larger-than-life characters, and fantasy concepts that may be awkward on screen. The Inheritance Cycle was previously adapted into the movie Eragon, which bombed at the box office and was negatively received by critics and fans of the series. The movie demonstrates just some of the difficulties of creating an Eragon TV show. The show will also have to adapt additional characters and concepts introduced in the later books if it's renewed after the first season.

15 Comparisons To Other Fantasy Series

Comparisons To Recent Adaptations Are Inevitable

One of the most difficult challenges for any fantasy novel or series being adapted for the screen is that there will be the inevitable comparisons to other fantasy adaptations. Almost any fantasy adaptation involving elves, dwarves, and magical beings has been compared to the Lord of the Rings trilogy since it was originally released.

In the last few years, however, other fantasy series like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Wheel of Time, and Rings of Power have all been adapted into series instead of movies. Each of those shows have their positives and their negatives, and they have very different audiences. Game of Thrones is a more adult show than Percy Jackson, for example, and isn’t going to have the exact same audience overlap, but the effects used to create mythical creatures and fight scenes are still going to be compared.

Those involved in bringing Eragon and the rest of the books to Disney+ will have to be aware that those comparisons are going to exist and acknowledge or circumvent them.

14 Balancing CGI And Practical Effects

Too Much CGI Will Not Work

There is a tendency for major production companies like Disney to leap to the solution of using computer generated imaging. In something like Eragon, that would be a mistake. Practical effects work to give a sense of realism on the screen, and that sense of realism is needed in a fantasy series.

That’s also why there will have to be a balance between filming on location and on a soundstage. Much of Percy Jackson, for example, was filmed on a soundstage with impressive sets built for the show. Those sets work, especially for the scenes contained in casinos or carnivals. Much of Eragon, however, takes place outside.

He wrote a mountainous terrain into the novels that was eliminated from the movie.

That’s one point that writer Paolini has pointed out in 2023 interviews about making the show better than the previous movie, despite him liking what was done with the movie. He wrote a mountainous terrain into the novels that was eliminated from the movie, and he would like to see that terrain to help better visualize the world created:

One very small example, I say small but it's actually large, is with locations. Eragon and his companions end up traveling to a place where [there are] these absolutely gigantic, staggeringly large mountains, which are about 10 miles high. And there's magical reasons for that in the world. I know that can't happen in the real world but visually, it's a stunning thing to be able to show and to have your characters in this amazing location.

13 Adapting Less Than One Book Per Season

The Novels Might Be Too Dense For A Single Season

The novels of The Inheritance Cycle are dense. Though they’re aimed at a younger audience, the books are incredibly detailed and long, much like the Harry Potter novels and the Lord of the Rings novels. It’s worth the thought that each season of the show might not be able to be a single novel.

Instead, the show might need to incorporate events or characters at different points in the novels than when they first appear in the series to be able to streamline them. Some arcs also might need to stretch into two seasons instead of one. The team behind the show will need to be flexible to best serve the story instead of sticking to the one book per season rule that other fantasy series have tried to employ.

There are currently four full-length novels that are part of the series, but the show might need five or six seasons to properly pace the events of those novels unless each season has more than 10 episodes, which has been the Disney+ standard.

12 Casting Age-Appropriate Actors

Eragon Is 15 When The Story Begins

There is a tendency in television to cast actors who are much older than the characters they are portraying when the characters are teenagers. That is largely due to child labor laws and the requirements for young actors to complete a certain number of school hours while on set. That all cuts into filming time. When actors are significantly older than the character they are playing, however, it leaves an impression on the audience, and not in a good way.

If a character, like Eragon, is supposed to be 15, the actor should look 15, not 30. That way, the actor and the character will grow at the same time, maturing as the show continues, making more sense as the character becomes stronger and more experienced with their abilities, that the actor becomes more confident in the role as well.

Eragon and several other characters throughout the stories are teenagers, and they should appear as teenagers in the show.

11 World-Building Alagaësia

Eragon Might Need More Than Four Seasons

The Inheritance Cycle is primarily set in Alagaësia, which has an extensive history and mythology. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Urgals, and other races play a role in the story. The books introduce the history of Alagaësia through ing characters, primarily Brom, who explain things at length to Eragon. However, there is only so long they can talk in a TV show before the exposition becomes tedious. Disney could cut the setting's non-essential elements, but it would lessen the world's depth.

Each season could focus not just on the events of the corresponding book but also delve into different aspects of the world's lore, cultures, and histories.

Moreover, the complexity and depth of Alagaësia suggest that the Eragon TV show would benefit from extending beyond four seasons. Each season could focus not just on the events of the corresponding book but also delve into different aspects of the world's lore, cultures, and histories. This approach would provide ample time to explore significant subplots and character backstories, enriching the overall narrative. For instance, dedicated episodes or arcs could explore the ancient conflicts between the races, the lore of the Dragon Riders, or the politics of the Varden and the Empire.

10 Eragon & Arya's Relationship

Eragon & Arya's Actors Need To Implicitly Convey A Profound Relationship.

While Eragon expresses his feelings for the Elf princess Arya multiple times throughout the books, Arya rejects him because she believes neither can afford to be distracted from the coming war. The movie was criticized for its flat characterization of Arya. The actors playing Eragon and Arya in the Eragon reboot will be challenged with depicting a profound relationship between the two characters without anything ever happening between them. Hopefully, these actors will have good writers to help bring Eragon and Arya's dynamic to life.

The nuanced portrayal of their bond should reflect the underlying tension and unfulfilled potential.

Additionally, the show must capture the subtleties of their evolving relationship, marked by mutual respect, camaraderie, and unspoken emotional depth. The nuanced portrayal of their bond should reflect the underlying tension and unfulfilled potential, making their interactions resonate with the audience. Effective use of body language, meaningful glances, and dialogue laden with subtext can help convey the complexity of their feelings without overt romance, staying faithful to the source material while adding layers to their on-screen chemistry.

9 Writing Compelling ing Character Arcs

Murtagh, Nasuada, Roran, & Brom Should All Be Fully Developed Characters.

The Inheritance Cycle also includes many interesting ing characters whose arcs must be included in the show. ing characters who are essential to the plot include Murtagh, who is both an antagonist and ally to Eragon at different points; Nasuada, the rebellious daughter of the Varden's leader who steps into the role herself after her father's death; Roran, Eragon's cousin who is drawn into the conflict; and Brom, Eragon's mentor with a mysterious past. The show must find the right actors and the necessary screen time, so all these characters are given their due.

Properly fleshing out these arcs will not only enhance the main narrative but also create a more immersive and emotionally resonant story

Moreover, the development of these characters should delve into their personal struggles, motivations, and growth over time. Murtagh's internal conflict and complex loyalties, Nasuada's rise to leadership and the burdens it brings, Roran's transformation from a simple farmer to a war hero, and Brom's enigmatic history and its revelations all provide rich material for compelling subplots. Properly fleshing out these arcs will not only enhance the main narrative but also create a more immersive and emotionally resonant story, ensuring that the audience forms strong connections with each character.

8 Elva

Elva Will Be A Particularly Difficult Character To Adapt

In the first book, Eragon accidentally curses an orphaned baby girl because he is not yet adept at using the Ancient Language. The girl, Elva, feels the pain of others and can sense oncoming dangers. Her curse to "be a shield" causes her to age rapidly so she can better accomplish this role. At only a few months old, she appears to be a small child and speaks like a grown woman.

Elva is a morally gray character in the series who does not always use her power for good. Disney will need to find a young actress who can convey Elva's ethereal nature as well as her selfishness, possibly using some effects to give her an older-sounding voice. They might age Elva up to 12 or 13 so that she will be easier to cast.

7 Creating Good Action Sequences (With Dragons)

Eragon Will Need A Big Budget To Cover The Dragons.

The action sequences in Eragon will be expensive to produce and difficult to plan, especially those involving dragons. The CGI is also a weakness of the Eragon movie, but Disney will likely invest the necessary resources into the show. Game of Thrones introduced dragons within a big-budget fantasy television show, but the original series never depicted any dragons fighting against each other. House of the Dragon season 2 will include this and could inspire the Eragon team.

Eragon's first season still must live up to past fantasy battles in movies and TV

While additional dragons for Eragon and Saphira to combat do not appear until Eldest, Eragon's first season still must live up to past fantasy battles in movies and TV. Furthermore, the show must balance spectacle with narrative significance, ensuring that action sequences are both visually impressive and integral to character development and plot progression. The choreography of dragon battles, the strategic use of magic, and the integration of Eragon's evolving skills as a Dragon Rider should all be meticulously crafted. This approach will help the action scenes to feel organic and meaningful rather than just serving as visual spectacles.

6 Casting Galbatorix

The Inheritance Cycle's Main Villain Will Probably Be Played By A Famous Actor.

Many of the main characters in The Inheritance Cycle have supernatural powers that make them conceptually bigger than any realistic human. For example, the main villain, King Galbatorix, is built up throughout the series as an impossible force to beat. Galbatorix was a dragon rider himself who betrayed the other riders. His second dragon, Shruikan, is gargantuan, bigger than any other dragon in the series. Disney will likely want an A-lister who already carries a kind of gravitas to play Galbatorix.

The portrayal of Galbatorix must balance his fearsome authority with moments of vulnerability and complexity

Moreover, casting a well-known and respected actor for Galbatorix can add significant weight to the character, ensuring his presence is as formidable on screen as in the books. The actor's performance must convey a blend of immense power, deep-seated bitterness, and cunning intelligence. This casting choice can also help to anchor the series, drawing in viewers who might be fans of the actor and adding credibility to the adaptation. The portrayal of Galbatorix must balance his fearsome authority with moments of vulnerability and complexity, making him a multifaceted antagonist who enhances the tension.