Talk show host Stephen Colbert to write new Lord of the Rings film

Stephen Colbert to Co-Write New Lord of the Rings Film After Late-Night Show Ends

US TV host Stephen Colbert has revealed his next major project: co-writing a brand-new film set in the Lord of the Rings universe. The announcement comes following the recent news that Colbert’s late-night talk show on CBS will conclude in May after a 33-year run.

Colbert, a longtime J.R.R. Tolkien superfan, will collaborate with his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, to adapt an early section of The Fellowship of the Ring. Specifically, they will focus on chapters three through eight, which detail Frodo Baggins and his fellow hobbits beginning their epic quest.

In a video call with director Peter Jackson, Colbert described the upcoming project as “its own story that could fit into the larger story” and emphasized that it would remain “completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made.”

Colbert explained that the idea for the film, reportedly titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, had been brewing for years. However, he admitted he initially thought he would not have the time to pursue it while hosting his nightly show. “As much as I love it, I knew I couldn't do that [film] and do the show at the same time. But it turns out I'm going to be free starting this summer,” Colbert said.

The project will explore previously undeveloped material from the first Lord of the Rings film, giving life to chapters that Jackson’s original adaptation did not cover. “You know what the books mean to me and what your films mean to me,” Colbert told Jackson. “But the thing I found myself reading over and over again were the six chapters early on in The Fellowship that y’all never developed into the first movie back in the day.”

Working with McGee, Colbert said they crafted the story as a framing device that would align seamlessly with the established Tolkien universe. The film’s official synopsis states:

"Fourteen years after the passing of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam's daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began."

Colbert shared that he had to muster his courage over several years before reaching out to Jackson, and two years ago, he finally pitched the concept. Jackson reportedly approved the idea, setting the stage for the new production.

Alongside Colbert and McGee, the film will be co-written by Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the original Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. Boyens is also co-writing the upcoming The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis and scheduled for release in 2027.

Peter Jackson directed the original Lord of the Rings trilogy over 20 years ago, earning Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture for The Return of the King in 2004. The success of the trilogy was followed by the Hobbit films and a high-budget Amazon Prime TV spin-off, cementing the franchise as one of the most beloved and influential in cinematic history.

With Colbert now free from his late-night duties, fans can expect a fresh perspective on Middle-earth, combining a deep reverence for Tolkien’s work with a new narrative voice that promises to expand the iconic universe in exciting ways.