Stephen Colbert to Write New Lord of the Rings Movie for Peter Jackson

In an unexpected but fitting collaboration, Stephen Colbert—renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of Tolkien's works and ability to quote extensive passages from the novels—has been enlisted to write a new Lord of the Rings film.

The Late Show host will develop the screenplay for The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past (working title), collaborating with his son Peter McGee and veteran screenwriter Philippa Boyens. This project represents the second installment in Warner Bros.' expanding Middle-earth film series, following Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum, which will be directed by Andy Serkis, who portrayed the iconic character in Jackson's original trilogy.

Plot Details

The narrative of Shadow of the Past unfolds 14 years following Frodo's passing, centering on the remaining members of the Fellowship—Sam, Merry, and Pippin—as they embark on a journey to revisit the origins of their legendary adventure. The story introduces Sam's daughter, Elanor, who uncovers a hidden secret that compels her to investigate why the War of the Ring nearly ended in defeat before it truly began.

The Announcement

Warner Bros. revealed this collaboration through a carefully orchestrated video announcement on Tuesday evening. The presentation opened with director Peter Jackson, who helmed both The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003) and The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), teasing the involvement of a "very special partner" for the project following The Hunt for Gollum. The reveal of Colbert as this collaborator generated significant excitement among fans of both the franchise and the comedian.

Adapting Unused Material

During the video announcement, Colbert articulated his vision for the project, explaining how Shadow of the Past would incorporate material from The Fellowship of the Ring that remained unused in Jackson's 2001 adaptation. "The chapters I found myself revisiting repeatedly were the six early sections in The Fellowship [of the Ring] that weren't developed for the original film," Colbert explained. "Specifically, from 'Three is Company' through 'Fog on the Barrow-Downs.' I began considering whether this material could form its own narrative within the larger story—creating something completely faithful to both Tolkien's books and the established cinematic universe Peter Jackson created."