Key Points
- Colbert co-writes The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past; Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh produce.
- Story takes place 14 years after Frodo, following Sam, Merry, Pippin and Sam's daughter Elanor.
- Colbert developed the outline with his son; project announced after his Late Show ended.
Why They're In The News
STEPHEN Colbert is heading from late-night TV to Middle-earth.
After wrapping up his run as host of The Late Show in May, the comedian and longtime JRR Tolkien superfan has announced that he will co-write a new Lord of the Rings film titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, Deadline reports.
The project was revealed in a social media video alongside director Peter Jackson, who will produce the film. Colbert is writing the screenplay with Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, with Fran Walsh also producing.
The story is set 14 years after Frodo’s passing and follows Sam, Merry and Pippin as they retrace the earliest steps of their original adventure.
The film will also centre on Sam’s daughter, Elanor, who uncovers a hidden secret tied to how the War of the Ring nearly failed before it began.
Colbert said the idea came from revisiting The Fellowship of the Ring and focusing on chapters that were not adapted in Jackson’s original film trilogy.
He explained that he wanted to create a story that stayed true to Tolkien’s books while also fitting the world of the movies.
He also shared that he first developed the outline with his son, screenwriter Peter Colbert.
Jackson joked about Colbert finding time for the project, with Colbert responding that he will be “free starting this summer.”
The announcement comes after the cancellation of The Late Show, which Colbert has hosted since 2015.
Shadow of the Past is now one of two major upcoming films set in Tolkien’s universe. The other, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, is set for release on 17 December 2027 and will be directed by Andy Serkis.
With Colbert’s deep love of Tolkien and Jackson’s return as producer, this new chapter in Middle-earth is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about fantasy projects in development.
Why This Matters
Stephen Colbert’s move from late-night to co-writing a new Lord of the Rings film signals a high-profile, fan-driven continuation of Tolkien’s lore — combining his passion with Peter Jackson’s involvement to reshape beloved characters’ future on-screen.
