Stephen Colbert, a well-known enthusiast of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, is collaborating with his son on a film based on “The Lord of the Rings.” Warner Bros. revealed on Wednesday that Colbert, along with series veteran Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, will be co-writing “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past.” The involvement of Colbert was announced by producer Peter Jackson in a social media video introducing a special partner for the film.
Colbert shared that it took him some time to muster the courage to reach out to Jackson, but their collaboration began about two years ago. He expressed his excitement about working with Boyens to develop the story. The idea for the film stemmed from a conversation Colbert had with his son a few years back, where they brainstormed a potential framing device for the plot, focusing on a new adventure for characters like Sam, Merry, and Pippin set 14 years after Frodo’s passing.
The upcoming movie, “Shadow of the Past,” joins a long list of adaptations from the “Lord of the Rings” universe, following Jackson’s original trilogy and subsequent prequels based on “The Hobbit.” Additionally, Jackson was involved in producing the anime film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” in 2024. Another upcoming project is Andy Serkis’ “The Hunt for Gollum,” also produced by Jackson, scheduled for release next year.
Apart from these adaptations, the Amazon Prime prequel series “The Rings of Power,” unrelated to Jackson’s works, garnered attention for its record-breaking budget of around $1 billion for the first season released in 2022. Despite positive reviews, the show’s third season release date remains unconfirmed. In the gaming realm, while titles like “The Return of the King” and the “Middle-Earth” series were well-received, “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” in 2023 faced criticism as one of the worst video games. Another game rumored to be in development to rival “Hogwarts Legacy” is a new “Lord of the Rings” game, as per a report from Insider Gaming.
As an avid fan, Colbert has frequently showcased his vast knowledge of the “Lord of the Rings” franchise, often inviting cast and crew members on his show and engaging in trivia challenges. In a tribute to mark the 20th anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring” in 2021, Colbert reunited much of the cast for a rap performance on “The Late Show.” Colbert praised the trilogy as the greatest in movie history, emphasizing his deep admiration for the franchise.
“The Late Show” on CBS is set to conclude on May 21 following the network’s decision to cancel the series in July.
