Eragon

Eragon is a 2006 American fantasy/action/adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Paolini. It is scheduled to be released on December 14, 2006 (Australia, New Zealand) and December 15, 2006 (UK, USA, Canada) by 20th Century Fox.

The film is directed by Stefen Fangmeier, a first-time director, who has previously worked as a visual effects director on such films as Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. The screenwriter is Peter Buchman, who is best known for his script for Jurassic Park III. The movie began principal photography at the Mafilm Fot Studios in Hungary on August 1, 2005. As of December 25, 2005, the movie entered post-production. Special visual effects and animation by Industrial Light & Magic and Weta Digital.

Plot Synopsis
Industrial Light and Magic special effects wizard Stefen Fangmeier makes the leap into the director's chair with this coming of age fantasy concerning a young boy whose discovery of a mysterious dinosaur egg leads him on a predestined journey to become a Dragon Rider and defend his peaceful world against an evil king. Based on the best-selling novel by Christopher Paolini, Eragon tells the tale of the titular character (Ed Speleers), a humble farm-boy living in the land of Alagaesia whose life is forever changed when he discovers that he has been chosen to fight the most powerful enemy his world has ever known. Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and Djimon Hounsou co-star in a film produced by Davis Entertainment and adapted from the novel by screenwriters Peter Buchman, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, and Jesse Wigutow.

Trivia

 * Edward Speleers was a boarder at Eastbourne College when he beat out 180,000 other applicants to win the title role of Eragon.
 * Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewert were offered the role of Brom, but turned it down because of their commitment to X-Men 3 (2006).
 * Joss Stone's first film role
 * Christopher Paolini, author of the original novel, expressed his wishes to make a cameo appearance in the film, specifically a warrior who is beheaded in the battle of Farthen Dur. However, he was unable to due to the constraints of his European Book Tour.
 * Guy Pearce was a candidate for the role of Durza the Shade.
 * Elijah Wood and 'Shia LaBeouf' were considered for the role of Eragon.
 * Alex Pettyfer was offered the role of Eragon, previous to the casting of Ed Speleers. Pettyfer says he turned down the role partly because Eragon was being filmed in Budapest and he's afraid of flying.