Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have revealed that outgoing CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert will co-write a new live-action installment in the Lord of the Rings saga.
The film, titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, follows The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis and slated for release on December 17, 2027.
The screenplay is being crafted by Colbert, Philippa Boyens—an Oscar-winning screenwriter from the original trilogies—and Colbert’s son, Peter. The film is being produced by Peter Jackson’s WingNut Films, with involvement from Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Boyens, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The narrative will utilize unadapted portions of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, particularly chapters three to eight, which were absent from Jackson’s previous adaptations.
NEW ‘LORD OF THE RINGS’ MOVIE
Stephen Colbert is co-writing “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” (working title), which will go into production after “The Hunt for Gollum.”
The synopsis: “Fourteen years after the passing of Frodo – Sam, Merry, and Pippin set out to… pic.twitter.com/d4yv2eoZFX
— Variety (@Variety) March 25, 2026
The official description outlines, “Fourteen years after the end of the Ring’s journey, Frodo and his friends attempt to retrace their original adventure, while Sam’s daughter, Elanor, seeks to uncover a buried truth about the War of the Ring.”
A devoted Tolkien admirer, Colbert had a brief appearance in Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Approximately two years prior, he pitched the concept to Jackson, expressing his deep connection to the source material in a video announcement.
Colbert reflected, “The six chapters early in the Fellowship always captivated me; they were never featured in the films. I thought it could possibly be spun into its own story while honoring both the books and the original movies.”
He further mentioned conversations with his son as they began developing the idea. “It took quite a while to gather the courage to reach out to you, but I finally did two years ago, and we have been collaborating with the brilliant Philippa Boyens to bring this vision to life,” he noted.
However, the announcement has not been received well by some. Critics expressed their displeasure on social media, with one remarking, “Tolkien must be turning in his grave.” Another user suggested drastic measures against the project creators.
Additionally, many fear that Colbert’s political leanings might interfere with the franchise’s integrity. “Warner Bros. seems intent on outdoing the dreadful Rings of Power series,” noted a popular culture commentator.
— The Comedian (@The__Comedian__) March 25, 2026
As of now, no release date for the film has been disclosed.
