In a surprising career pivot, comedian and departing late-night host Stephen Colbert has secured a dream project: writing a new Lord of the Rings film. This news comes shortly after the cancellation of his long-running talk show, The Late Show, sending ripples through the entertainment industry.
From Late Night to Middle-earth
Stephen Colbert, 61, is an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary fantasy series, frequently discussing the books on his program. Just last week, he humorously chided franchise star Elijah Wood for never having read the original texts. Colbert's fandom is well-documented; he even made a cameo appearance in Peter Jackson's 2013 film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Announcement and Inspiration
The project was announced on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, via a video featuring Colbert and director Peter Jackson, 64. According to Deadline, the film is currently titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. Colbert explained that while re-reading The Fellowship of the Ring, he became fixated on six chapters that were cut from Jackson's 2001 adaptation.
"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," Colbert told Jackson. "I thought, wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story. Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies?"
Plot and Production Details
Colbert sketched out the plot with his screenwriter son, Peter, who also appeared in The Hobbit film with him 13 years ago. The film will be produced by original franchise producers Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh. It will largely focus on the eighth chapter of the book, titled "Fogs on the Barrow-downs," and will feature Tom Bombadil, a fan-favourite character omitted from Jackson's movies, as well as previous animated and radio adaptations.
Timing and Context
This new on-screen adventure follows the upcoming release of the Andy Serkis-directed Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, scheduled for December 2027. Colbert's involvement coincides with his departure from The Late Show, which Paramount, the parent company of CBS, cancelled in July. His final episode airs on 21 May.
In the announcement video, Colbert alluded to this change, joking to Jackson: "It turns out I’m going to be free starting this summer." Jackson sarcastically replied, "Isn’t that fortunate?" This project marks a significant shift for Colbert, blending his passion for Tolkien's work with his creative talents in a new cinematic endeavor.
