Stephen Colbert, well-known for his admiration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, is collaborating with his son on a new movie based on The Lord of the Rings. Warner Bros. revealed on Wednesday that Colbert, along with series veteran Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, will be working on The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. The announcement was made by producer Peter Jackson in a social media video introducing a “very special partner” for the film.
Colbert shared that he had discussed the project with Jackson a couple of years ago, leading to their collaboration with Boyens on developing the story. The idea for the film originated from a conversation Colbert had with his son, where they came up with a potential framing device for the plot, focusing on a new adventure for Sam, Merry, and Pippin set 14 years after Frodo’s passing.
The upcoming movie, Shadow of the Past, continues the line of Lord of the Rings adaptations, following Peter Jackson’s trilogy and the subsequent Hobbit prequels. Additionally, the anime The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim was produced by Jackson in 2024. Andy Serkis’ The Hunt for Gollum is another upcoming project produced by Jackson and is scheduled for release next year.
In contrast, the Amazon Prime prequel series, The Rings of Power, unrelated to Jackson’s adaptations, made headlines for being one of the most expensive shows ever created. With a reported budget of around $1 billion US, the series received positive reviews upon its first season release in 2022. Despite filming for the third season being completed, the release date remains unconfirmed.
Furthermore, the Lord of the Rings franchise has seen a range of video game adaptations, with titles like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum in 2023 receiving negative feedback, while Tales of the Shire from Wētā Workshop had mixed reviews. Reports suggest that a new game in the Lord of the Rings universe, aimed to rival Hogwarts Legacy, is currently in development.
As an avid fan of Tolkien’s work, Colbert has often showcased his vast knowledge of Lord of the Rings, frequently inviting cast and crew members from the films, including Jackson, on his show. In a nod to the franchise’s 20th anniversary in 2021, he brought together much of the cast for a rap tribute on The Late Show. Colbert has expressed his deep admiration for the trilogy, calling it the greatest in movie history.
The final episode of The Late Show on CBS is set to air on May 21 following the network’s decision to cancel the series last July.