Stephen Colbert to co-write upcoming Lord of the Rings movie

Fans of Stephen Colbert and the Lord of the Rings series recently received exciting news from Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. The announcement revealed that Colbert would be co-writing a new Middle-earth feature film. The image released with the news shows Stephen Colbert in December 2025, generating buzz among fans eagerly awaiting this collaboration.

The project, tentatively titled Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, lists Colbert as a co-writer alongside his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, and renowned Lord of the Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens. In a video shared by the studio, filmmaker Peter Jackson introduced Colbert by video call, emphasizing their partnership on this new venture. Colbert, known for his passion for Tolkien’s works, previously made a cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 2013.

The new film aims to adapt six early chapters from The Fellowship of the Ring that were not included in the original cinematic trilogy. Colbert explained in the video that the idea stemmed from reimagining these chapters as a standalone story that could seamlessly integrate with the existing films. He expressed a desire to create a faithful adaptation of the source material while paying homage to Jackson’s previous movies.

To shape these chapters into a cohesive narrative, Colbert and McGee are brainstorming potential framing devices for the film. Colbert humorously mentioned the nerves he felt in reaching out to Jackson, highlighting the collaborative process behind this ambitious project.

Warner Bros. provided a synopsis outlining the premise of Shadow of the Past. The film follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin fourteen years after Frodo’s passing as they embark on a quest to revisit the beginning of their journey. Simultaneously, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, unearths a long-buried secret, leading to a revelation about the near defeat in the War of the Ring. The movie is one of two new Lord of the Rings projects currently in development.

In addition to Shadow of the Past, Andy Serkis, known for portraying Gollum in the original films, is directing The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. This separate entry is set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings timelines, with an expected release date in December 2027. Colbert acknowledged the challenge of balancing his TV duties with writing for the new film but expressed excitement about the creative journey ahead.

The timing of Colbert’s involvement in this project coincides with significant changes in his television career. Despite CBS canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last year, he finds himself with newfound time to dedicate to this exciting new cinematic adventure. Fans eagerly await further updates on Shadow of the Past and the upcoming Lord of the Rings films.