ROTTEN TOMATOES: Fox Schedules Production and Release Dates for "Eragon"

Fox Schedules Production and Release Dates for "Eragon"

by Scott Weinberg | July 15, 2005

Variety reports that the Fox 2000 production of "Eragon" will begin shooting on August 1st, in preparation for a theatrical release date of June 16th, 2006. Based on the bestselling novel by Christopher Paolini, "Eragon" is a fantasy adventure story full of giant dragons, heroic deeds, and all sorts of fantastical goings-on.

More specifically, the plot deals with "a teen farmboy whose discovery of a dinosaur egg in his homeland of Alagaesia leads him on a predestined journey to become a Dragon Rider who will battle an evil king to determine the fate of his world."

FX guru Stefen Fangmeier ("Signs") will make his directorial debut, and he'll be working from an adapted screenplay by Peter Buchman ("Jurassic Park 3"), Lawrence Konner ("Planet of the Apes"), and Mark Rosenthal ("Mighty Joe Young").

Newcomer Ed Speleers has snagged the lead role, but he'll be capably flanked by pros like Djimon Hounsou ("The Island"), Jeremy Irons ("Dead Ringers"), and John Malkovich ("Con Air").

Fox hopes to build a trilogy out of Mr. Paolini's as-yet-unfinished saga -- but let's give the author some time; he's only 21 years old!

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

lovelykeira writes:
on Jul 15 2005 04:20 PM

Good supporting cast.

(Reply to this)

Ophiuchus writes:
on Jul 16 2005 08:35 AM

Oh gods, no... this kid gets himself published in spite of not having any talent, just because his parents are publishers. And now he's getting a movie. I tell you, it's things like this make me want to commit murder.

(Reply to this)

ieatfood54491 writes:
on Jul 16 2005 01:44 PM

In reply to this comment (#824254)
i loved the books, but i dont think this is a good idea

(Reply to this)

synergyred writes:
on Jul 16 2005 06:08 PM

This movie makes me nervous. Sure, I enjoyed Eragon, but it wasn't that good of a book. I cannot picture it translating very well to screen. It doesn't have the sophistication of LotR, nor the charm of Harry Potter. I can't see it going very well.

(Reply to this)

Ophiuchus writes:
on Jul 16 2005 08:12 PM

The kid wrote it using a 'how to write fantasy books' manual, for gods' sakes. It's no wonder he didn't produce anything original or charming. And LOTR isn't sophisticated, it's boring and convoluted. Sorry. Just had to get that off my chest.

(Reply to this)

wildmooserevenge writes:
on Jul 18 2005 08:26 AM

It seems as if whenever one walks down the "fiction" area of a bookstore, all one sees are these fantasy books that basically follow the same formula. It seems as if all a book needs now is a fancy map and 300+ pages.
I love Eragon, but I think that Fox should spend its time making a fresher book into a good movie, and not a copy of past works of fiction.
I suggest reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time instead of these copied "fiction" works.

(Reply to this)

Ophiuchus writes:
on Jul 18 2005 05:39 PM

Since they're getting Paolini, who is an inexperienced ametuer at best, to write the screenplay, it would seem this movie's prospects are not good.

(Reply to this)

synergyred writes:
on Jul 18 2005 06:14 PM

In reply to this comment (#824258)
wildmooserevenge- I agree. If they want to put a fantasy book to screen, why not Artemis Fowl instead of Eragon? It's different, wildly popular, and has a truely orginal protagonist! There were so many rumors running around a couple years ago in regards to making a movie, but I haven't heard anything since.

(Reply to this)

Ophiuchus writes:
on Jul 18 2005 11:33 PM

They're making the Eragon movie because the book was a bestseller, not because it's any good. The only thing that depresses me more than my own cynicism is the fact that it's never anywhere near as cynical as real life.

(Reply to this)

haelohm writes:
on Jul 19 2005 07:18 PM

[b]Eragon was a GREAT book![/b]
I loved the 587 page Eragon book...it was so good...especially for a 16-18 year old...And mind you it garnered the approval of Anne McAffry, creator of the Dragon Riders of Pern...He gave Eragon new twists with great magic, heartache, and beautiful awe...If fox does this movie right it will be good...And I LOVE Harry Potter, and these books are not the same kind as Eragon, so it need not be "charming." Eragon is just as an entertaining read as Harry Potter, and will probably make a more interesting movie with the cool action and fantasy...dont judge a movie UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY SEE IT as i remind ppl striking out against Brett Ratner on X3...there ive vented enough for now...

(Reply to this)

Ophiuchus writes:
on Jul 19 2005 10:58 PM

I don't doubt that Paolini has potential, but until he comes up with some ideas of his own he won't be a 'good' author. I'm afraid that stealing other people's ideas so openly is the sure sign of an amatuer. Sure, fantasy tends to use the same ideas a lot of the time- that's one definition of fantasy. But genuinely talented fantasy writers at least put their own twist or spin on the ideas they choose to follow.

Paolini, by contrast, added nothing of his own to the formula and thus created yet another low-grade rehash of ideas which have already been done to death. His characters are flat clones of the characters from Tolkien and Star Wars, and the storyline is predictable. Sorry, but these things do not add up to a 'great' book. The Paolini hype is mere sensationalism based around his age. Sadly, being young does not mean being let off for plagurism. He's old enough to know better.
Now *I've* vented enough as well.

(Reply to this)

jsmccune writes:
on Jul 20 2005 11:46 AM

[b]Funny... Funny[/b]
LOTR was convoluted -- but original for its time... but not.

No fantasy is original, for the most part. Almost all, if not all borrow or 'steal' (whatever that entails) from history/writing/etc. It's the familiar that brings about readers. Harry Potter is so widely read b/c it incorporates nothing but common elements seen time and time again and blends them together in a slightly unique way. It's J.K.'s manner of writing, of drawing out the plot, combined with that familiarity that makes her books insanely popular.

Give me a unique storyline and most likely it's a book that failed to get published. Perhaps that's telling of the true lack of human creativity or more the desire for the familiar.

As for P-lini -- good for him and writing at his age. I fear that his Montana backwoods nature might lead to a new cult, of the likes of Hubbard's Scientology, but only time will tell :)

(Reply to this)

ettarre writes:
on Jul 22 2005 12:06 PM

Why not adapt a China Mieville book? He can write circles around most of these so-called best sellers that get made into movies. Perdido Street Station has to be the best scifi/fantasy novel I've read in years.

(Reply to this)

Super Simba writes:
on Aug 26 2005 09:11 AM

In reply to this comment (#824260)
They ARE making an Artemis Fowl movie.

(Reply to this)

Sunshine_rox writes:
on Nov 30 2005 03:50 PM

In reply to this comment (#824254)
[b]Hey!!![/b]
Did you even read the books?? I very much dislike you for bashing those books! They're 20x's better than LOTR AND Harry Potter. How could you even think this guy 'has no talent'? Have you seen some of that writing. And for your info, Knopf published it as well.

(Reply to this)

Sunshine_rox writes:
on Nov 30 2005 03:54 PM

In reply to this comment (#824262)
[b]I agree[/b]
I totally argree with you haelohm! These ppl need to quit being so negative about this!

(Reply to this)

cjkilla writes:
on Dec 30 2005 07:10 PM

In reply to this comment (#824254)
[b]wow[/b]
you r a fucking dumass Ophiuchus theese books are great and his parents do hav a publishing company but they no longer publish his books try doing some research you fucking dip.

(Reply to this)

Waffles92 writes:
on Feb 18 2006 05:04 PM

[b]Hey[/b]
I say they should make an Inkheart movie, now theres a great book.

(Reply to this)