Guy Pearce was a candidate for the role of Durza the Shade.However, he was unable to due to the constraints of his European Book Tour. Christopher Paolini, the 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.Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewert were offered the role of Brom, but turned it down because of their commitment to X-Men 3.Edward Speleers was a boarder at Eastbourne College when he beat out 180,000 other applicants to win the title role of Eragon.
Originally, Eragon was supposed to be the first in a franchise based on Paolini's Inheritance Cycle book series with Fangmeirer shooting both Eldest and Brisingr back-to-back. However, due to negative reception from critics and book fans, the planned franchise was cancelled. It was the 10th worst reviewed film of 2006 on Rotten Tomatoes, but the 31st highest-grossing film of 2006 in the US. It is notable for being the last film to be released on VHS in the United States. The film was released for home entertainment on March 20, 2007. Eragon was released worldwide between Decemand Decemby 20th Century Fox. Visual effects and animation were done by Weta Digital and Industrial Light & Magic. Principal photography took place at the Mafilm Fót Studios in Hungary, starting on August 1, 2005. Based on the best-selling novel by Christopher Paolini, Eragon tells the tale of the titular character, a humble farm-boy living in the land of Alagæsia whose life is forever changed when he discovers that he has been chosen to fight the most powerful enemy his world has ever known. A young boy whose discovery of a mysterious egg leads him on a predestined journey to become a Dragon Rider and defend his peaceful world against an evil king.