Stephen Colbert has exciting plans after his 11-year run as host of “The Late Show” wraps up in May. He’s teaming up with director Peter Jackson to co-write and develop a new film in the beloved “Lord of the Rings” franchise.
In a recent video, Colbert expressed his enthusiasm, saying how much Tolkien’s work means to him. The film, tentatively titled “Shadow of the Past,” will be the second of two upcoming movies in production at Warner Bros. Discovery, alongside New Line Cinema.
Jackson also updated fans about another film set for release in 2027, “The Hunt for Gollum,” which will be directed by Andy Serkis, a familiar face from the original films. Colbert revealed that their upcoming project will focus on parts of Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” that didn’t make it into the earlier movies.
He shared, “I kept returning to six chapters early on in the book that never made it to the screen. I thought, ‘Maybe this could be its own story within the larger tale.’” He collaborated with his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, to frame the story properly. Colbert felt nervous about reaching out to Jackson two years ago but was thrilled when Jackson showed interest.
Colbert praised his collaboration with Jackson and screenwriter Philippa Boyens, stating, “I couldn’t be happier that they loved it, and that’s what we’re going to be working on.”
As his late-night show comes to an end, Colbert pointed out, “I’ll be free starting this summer,” hinting at his new adventure in the world of Middle-earth. Fans have long seen his passion for Tolkien’s work; he even moderated a Hobbit panel in costume at Comic-Con in 2014.
The interest in Tolkien adaptations continues to thrive, with a recent report by The Hollywood Reporter showing that around 13% of new movie projects are based on books and comics, highlighting the ongoing draw of literary adaptations in cinema.
For more details, check out the announcement on Deadline.
