Stephen Colbert, well-known for his admiration for 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. made the announcement on Wednesday, revealing that Colbert, along with long-time series contributor Philippa Boyens and his son Peter McGee, will be penning the script for The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. The involvement of Colbert was disclosed by producer Peter Jackson in a social media video where he introduced a “very special partner” for the project.
Colbert shared that it took him some time to muster the courage to reach out to Jackson, but about two years ago, he made the call. The idea he pitched resonated with Jackson, leading to their collaboration with Philippa Boyens to shape the storyline. The concept for the film originated during a conversation with his son a few years back, focusing on a new journey for Sam, Merry, and Pippin set 14 years after Frodo’s demise.
The upcoming film, Shadow of the Past, adds to the lineage of Lord of the Rings adaptations, following Peter Jackson’s renowned trilogy and subsequent prequel trilogy based on The Hobbit. Additionally, the anime The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, produced by Jackson, is slated for 2024. Notably, Andy Serkis’ The Hunt for Gollum, also produced by Jackson, is scheduled for release next year.
Apart from these projects, Amazon Prime’s The Rings of Power, a prequel series unrelated to Jackson’s works, made headlines for being one of the most expensive TV shows ever produced with an estimated cost of $1 billion US for its first season. The series received positive reviews, with the third season awaiting a confirmed release date.
In the realm of video games, while titles like 2003’s The Return of the King and the Middle-Earth series were well-received, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum in 2023 was criticized as one of the worst games ever. Conversely, 2025’s Tales of the Shire by Wētā Workshop garnered mixed reviews. Rumors suggest a new Lord of the Rings game is in development to rival Hogwarts Legacy>, as reported by Insider Gaming.
Stephen Colbert, a devoted fan of the franchise, has demonstrated his profound knowledge of Lord of the Rings</em over the years. He has frequently hosted cast and crew members from the films on his show, often engaging in trivia challenges. In a tribute to the 20th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring in 2021, Colbert reunited much of the cast for a rap homage to the series on The Late Show.
As The Late Show on CBS approaches its final episode on May 21 following its cancellation announcement last July, Colbert continues to celebrate the enduring legacy of the iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy.
