Eragon’ TV Series Adaptation in Development at Disney+

[Frontier]

I wonder how much they'll change the first books story so it is not the exact plot of Star Wars.

Well, the tropes from Star Wars have been pretty repeated at this point...

[80sbaby]

It is Not even the first time Dragons are ripping off Star Wars. TSR Dragonlance novels were published in the 80s. DC did the comics Adaption. Yay, Dragonlance. BOO, eragon. Sorry rage typing on my Phone.

Wait. How exactly is Dragonlance like Star Wars in any way?

[Catlady in training]

I wonder how much they'll change the first books story so it is not the exact plot of Star Wars.

I think the comparison is overrated. It's not the exact plot.

[batnbreakfast]

Wait. How exactly is Dragonlance like Star Wars in any way?

The first Margaret Weiss/Tracy Hickman novel (Dragons of Autumn Twilight?) is basically A New Hope with Fantasy instead of Space Opera.

[BeastieRunner]

I think the comparison is overrated. It's not the exact plot.

I agree.

Herbert was a major literary influence on Paolini. So if anything, it's closer to Dune and if you've read Dune, well ... That's one of the big influences for Lucas for Star Wars.

He is heavily influenced by Jordan and Sanderson as well. Those influences show up later in the series. He's a Whovian so there's some Who references in his writings. He cites E.R. Edison and Bruce Coville as the "specific" inspiration for Eragon.

It is rife for adaptations.

He's also very open about his influences which is why I don't get the flack.

[AndrewCrossett]

Millions of stories follow the Star Wars template, because the Star Wars template is basically the Hero's Journey story that's the basis for literature going back to the Epic of Gilgamesh.

There are no original plots, only original stories hung on those plots.

[gonnagiveittoya]

Well, the tropes from Star Wars have been pretty repeated at this point...

Yeah but the first book isn't just The Monomyth similar, its like beat for beat. Brom is Obi-Wan, Murtagh is Han, etc.

He even lives with his uncle and has a blue sword.

[godisawesome]

Yeah, I’ll be honest, and say that while I think the “rip off” nature of the story *is* a real criticism, it’s actually not that derivative of Star Wars or LOTR as much as the classic criticism went.

I would add, though, that I liked the first book in high school, but hated the second book. I hope that if they get to that part of the story, they critically examine it so that I don’t come away hating the elevens and Eragon himself.

[BeastieRunner]

Yeah but the first book isn't just The Monomyth similar, its like beat for beat. Brom is Obi-Wan, Murtagh is Han, etc.

He even lives with his uncle and has a blue sword.

Murtagh is his half brother and the sword is red (and belongs to his brother). Brom is Eragon's father.

Swords match the Rider's dragons, Eragon makes his blue sword in book 3 (in a beautifully written passage BTW).

It's similar, sure, not beat for beat. Big moments and setup, are similar in book one. The minutiae... Not so much.

It's kind of like saying The Eye of the World is a rip off of LotR. It is similar and Jordan intended it as a homage to Tolkien. The WoT series deviates drastically. Eragon is a homage to Herbert and Star Wars but deviates as Inheritance goes on.

If you're going off the movie, it butchered the book massively.

[Besouro]

I haven't tried to read them, but aren't the Eragon books like... famously bad?

Though if the concept is solid, I suppose a talented writing and production team can get something worthwhile out of just about anything.

If the Eragon books are as "famously bad" as you claim how did it develop a big following of fans?!?

[AndrewCrossett]

Probably the same way many other bad books develop big followings of fans.

[Tofali]

If the Eragon books are as "famously bad" as you claim how did it develop a big following of fans?!?

The following are young adults so it's understandable that a fantastical story about dragon would be appealing but I'm sure the books/stories are still salvageable if adapted well.