Stephen Colbert, a well-known enthusiast of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, is collaborating with his son on writing a movie based on “Lord of the Rings.” Warner Bros. revealed on Wednesday that Colbert, along with Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, will be penning “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 special partner for the film.
Colbert shared that it took him some time to muster the courage to reach out to Jackson a couple of years ago. This initial contact led to discussions with Jackson and collaboration with Boyens on shaping the story. The idea for the film’s framing device came to Colbert a few years back during a conversation with his son. The storyline will revolve around a new quest for Sam, Merry, and Pippin, set 14 years after Frodo’s passing.
The upcoming movie, “Shadow of the Past,” continues the tradition of “Lord of the Rings” adaptations, following in the footsteps of Jackson’s trilogy and subsequent prequels based on Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” Additionally, Jackson was involved in producing the 2024 anime film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.” Another project in the pipeline is Andy Serkis’ “The Hunt for Gollum,” under Jackson’s production, scheduled for release next year.
Separately, Amazon Prime’s prequel series, “The Rings of Power,” not connected to Jackson’s adaptations, garnered attention for its record-breaking production costs. The first season, released in 2022 with an estimated budget of $1 billion US, received positive reviews. While filming for the show’s third season has concluded, a release date is yet to be confirmed.
In the realm of video games, the latest installment, “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum,” released in 2023, faced significant criticism and was dubbed one of the worst games ever. On the other hand, “Tales of the Shire,” launched in 2025 by Wētā Workshop, known for Avatar designs, received mixed reviews. There are speculations about a new “Lord of the Rings” game in development to rival “Hogwarts Legacy,” as per a report from Insider Gaming.
Colbert, a dedicated fan of the franchise, has showcased his profound knowledge of “Lord of the Rings” over the years. He frequently hosts cast and crew members from the films on his show, engaging them in trivia challenges. In honor of the 20th anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring” in 2021, Colbert orchestrated a rap tribute with much of the cast on “The Late Show.”
“The Late Show” on CBS is set to conclude with its final episode airing on May 21, following the network’s decision to cancel the series last July.