An upcoming Disney fantasy series that could be the perfect Lord of the Rings alternative has an odd impact on network TV. Fantasy stories have always had a devoted fandom. The idea of being whisked into an exciting adventure in another land, fighting various villains, both for survival and the greater good, has always had universal appeal. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson’s subsequent movie adaptations are regarded as some of the quintessential works in the genre.
The success of The Lord of the Rings films has inspired other studios to adapt more fantasy books to the big screen. At this point, there’s no scarcity of alternatives for those who want to watch something new that is still reminiscent of the world that Tolkien created. That said, Disney’s upcoming series may be the perfect replacement for some in Eragon, especially since both the 2006 film of the same name and the Christopher Paolini’s The Inheritance Cycle drawing a lot of parallels from The Lord of the Rings, admittedly for better or worse.
In 2022, a remake of the film as part of Disney+’s portfolio was first reported, but it got stuck in development hell for a while. Now, however, the Eragon TV adaptation is officially moving forward, although this major development has an odd implication on the current network TV landscape.
High Potential Loses Its 2-Season Showrunner To Eragon
Admittedly, Eragon shouldn’t have any impact on traditional broadcasting. Not only is it a genre that isn’t typically tackled by the big networks, at least not anymore, the show itself isn’t even going to be on ABC, which is Disney’s main free channel. However, the connection lies in the Disney+ show’s personnel and High Potential — Kaitlin Olson’s cop show where she plays a high potential individual named Morgan Gillory.
Unsurprisingly, ABC has renewed High Potential for season 3. Considering the show’s success, especially in terms of viewership, it was really only a matter of an official confirmation about the show’s future. That said, the great news came with another revelation. When High Potential returns for the 2026-2027 TV cycle, it will do so without its showrunner, Todd Harthan. His departure isn’t tied to any kind of internal dispute. Instead, he is leaving to work on Eragon.
It was back in February when news first broke out that the Disney+ series tapped Harthan and Todd Helbing to be co-showrunners. As work on Eragon ramps up behind-the-scenes, Harthan is prioritizing the high fantasy series over the already-established High Potential. No word yet on when the project will premiere on Disney+, but considering this development, it’s safe to say that they are already gearing up for pre-production and production in the next several months.
How Todd Harthan’s High Potential Exit Can Shake Up The Show & Network TV As A Whole
Harthan has spearheaded High Potential creatively since it premiered in 2024. While there are other factors that contribute to its success, its popularity is a testament to the work he has done on the show. As such, losing him will pose some major challenges for High Potential season 3 and beyond. Currently, ABC has yet to announce his replacement, as he still has until the end of the 2025-2026 TV cycle with the series.
Going through this significant personnel change at this juncture in High Potential‘s run can have a massive impact on its future. This is particularly important for the show, as it is ABC’s most-watched scripted series and one of network TV’s top-rated offerings. Not having Harthan at the helm could result in narrative shifts that may not exactly be in line with what the show has established itself to be known for. This doesn’t mean that change only means bad things. There’s also a chance that shaking things up could further endear High Potential to its viewers. Regardless, Harthan leaving will result in some changes.
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