Stephen Colbert Is Co-Writing a New 'The Lord of the Rings' Movie
The late-night host and Tolkien superfan joins Peter Jackson to expand the cinematic universe.
Summary
- Stephen Colbert, his son, and Philippa Boyens are officially developing a new film set within the expansive Middle-earth universe
- The project will be titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past and is based on chapters from the original novel
- The announcement was made by Peter Jackson and Colbert in conjunction with Tolkien Reading Day across official social media channels
Warner Bros. Pictures is expanding its acclaimed fantasy franchise with the official announcement of The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. Stephen Colbert, a known Tolkien superfan, is stepping into the screenwriting role for the new movie, developing the highly anticipated project alongside his son Peter McGee and original trilogy screenwriter Philippa Boyens, for returning producer Peter Jackson.
Revealed to the public during Tolkien Reading Day (the anniversary of the destruction of the One Ring) the news was shared directly via the official Lord of the Rings social channels. The narrative is confirmed to be based directly on chapters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s original novel, with the official synopsis reading, “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.”
No additional information, including whether original hobbits Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd, are returning.
The upcoming film will once again be distributed by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures. Furthermore, the movie will be set entirely within the established historical framework of Jackson’s original cinematic trilogy. The studio is actively continuing to expand its various projects within the beloved Tolkien universe, with Andy Serkis currently working on December 2027’s The Hunt of Gollum. The upcoming film will see Sir Ian McKellen return as Gandalf, while Wood is strongly rumored to reprise his role as Frodo.
Stay tuned for more details about The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past.
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