- '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 Stewart were offered the role of Brom, but turned it down because of their commitment to X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
- Joss Stone's first film role.
- Guy Pearce was a candidate for the role of Durza the Shade.
- Elijah Wood and 'Shia LaBeouf (I)' were considered for the role of Eragon.
- 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.
- Alex Pettyfer was offered the role of Eragon, previous to the casting of 'Edward Speleers'. Pettyfer says he turned down the role partly because Eragon was being filmed in Budapest and he's afraid of flying.
- The movements of Saphira flying were modeled after those of an eagle.
- 'Edward Speleers'' film debut.
- There are well over fifty differences between the movie and book plot lines.
- In the movie, Murtagh only carries a bow. In the first Eragon book, Murtagh carried a bow, a sword, and a dagger.
- Arya's hair color was meant to be black.
- Filming took place in Budapest, Hungary.
- The three cast members Garrett Hedlund, 'Edward Speleers' and Jeremy Irons all share the middle name of John.
- Murtagh's (Garrett Hedlund) name is mentioned only once in the movie. Nasuada's (Caroline Chikezie) name is never said. King Hrothgar's (Gary Lewis) name or authority is never said or stated.
- Many fans of the book were upset at Stefen Fangmeier's decisions to take out crucial characters and plot lines. Most notable differences include leaving out Angela's prophecy, Eragon's infatuation with Arya, the character of Elva (the girl Eragon "blesses"), as well as Saphira's appearance.
- Filming started in August 2005 and finished in September same year.
- The final writing credits for the movie were not decided on until days before it was released, resulting in the posters crediting various combinations of Peter Buchman, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal and Jesse Wigutow for the screenplay. In the end, the WGA decided that Buchman alone should get the screenplay credit.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: Eragon tries to save Brom with the incantation "Waisse heill!" This is an inside joke for language buffs. "Waes hael" ("Be well!") was an Old English drinking toast and source of the word "wassail," a kind of Christmas punch.
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