After more than a decade behind the desk of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert is preparing for a dramatic career pivot—one that feels less like a reinvention and more like a return to a lifelong passion. As his late-night tenure draws to a close in May, Stephen Colbert has revealed that his next act will unfold in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, where he will co-write and develop a new Lord of the Rings film. The announcement came in a video alongside filmmaker Peter Jackson, the creative force behind the original Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. For Colbert, the moment carried a sense of personal significance. Long known for his deep admiration of Tolkien’s work, he spoke candidly about what the books and films have meant to him over the years—a connection that now finds its way into the franchise itself.
A Story Hidden in Plain Sight
The upcoming film, tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, will mark the second new project currently in development within Tolkien’s cinematic universe. But unlike a straightforward continuation, this story draws from material that never made it onto the big screen.
Colbert’s inspiration came from revisiting The Fellowship of the Ring, particularly its early chapters—sections that were largely omitted from the original film adaptation. Those overlooked passages sparked an idea: what if they could form the backbone of an entirely new narrative that still fits seamlessly within the established world?
Rather than simply adapting existing text, Colbert set out to craft a story that would remain faithful to Tolkien’s spirit while also aligning with the tone and continuity of Jackson’s films. It was a delicate balance, one that required both reverence and creative ambition.
Building the Story
To shape the concept, Colbert turned to his son, screenwriter Peter McGee (also referred to as Peter Colbert in some reports), and together they began outlining the narrative. What emerged was a story set 14 years after Frodo’s departure, revisiting familiar characters while introducing new emotional stakes.
The film is expected to follow Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they retrace the early steps of their original journey. At the same time, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, uncovers a long-buried secret—one that suggests the War of the Ring came perilously close to disaster long before its final battles.
The project quickly gained momentum once Colbert shared the idea with Peter Jackson. What began as a hesitant pitch—one Colbert admits took years to muster the courage for—evolved into a full-fledged collaboration. Jackson, along with longtime collaborators Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, has joined the project, with Boyens also contributing to the screenplay.
A Franchise Expands
Shadow of the Past is part of a broader expansion of the Lord of the Rings film universe under Warner Bros. Discovery and New Line Cinema. It follows another highly anticipated project, The Hunt for Gollum, scheduled for release in December 2027.
Directed by and starring Andy Serkis, that film will explore Aragorn’s mission to track down Gollum in the years between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, adding further depth to the saga’s timeline.
Together, these projects signal a renewed cinematic focus on Middle-earth, a franchise that has already generated nearly $6 billion globally across its six previous films.
Timing, Controversy, and Opportunity
Colbert’s transition into filmmaking comes on the heels of The Late Show’s cancellation, a decision attributed publicly to financial pressures but not without controversy. The move drew criticism, particularly given its timing after Colbert publicly took aim at CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over a high-profile settlement involving Donald Trump.
In the announcement video, Jackson playfully noted the challenge of fitting a film project into Colbert’s schedule—only for Colbert to respond with a wry acknowledgment of his newfound availability: he’ll be “free starting this summer.”
A Full-Circle Moment
For longtime fans, Colbert’s involvement in The Lord of the Rings feels almost inevitable. His enthusiasm for Tolkien has been well documented, from detailed discussions on his show to appearances at fan events—even participating in a panel dressed in full Hobbit attire. He also previously made a cameo appearance in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug alongside his family.
Now, that fandom has evolved into authorship.
In many ways, Shadow of the Past represents more than just another installment in a blockbuster franchise. It is the rare instance of a fan stepping behind the curtain to help shape the very mythology that once inspired him—a transition that, if successful, could bring a deeply personal perspective to one of cinema’s most enduring fantasy worlds.
