Stephen Colbert Set to Create New Lord of the Rings Film After Late Show Wrap-Up

You might have thought there was no more to adapt from the Lord of the Rings universe after Peter Jackson delivered over 21 hours of cinematic magic, especially with 2027’s The Hunt for Gollum already in the works. However, it seems that Stephen Colbert is gearing up to bring yet another film to life once he wraps up his time as host of The Late Show.

This upcoming project will focus on “Fogs on the Barrow-downs,” the eighth chapter from The Fellowship of the Ring. You might wonder why this wasn’t included in the original film, but Colbert aims to rectify what many fans felt was a missed opportunity by reintroducing Tom Bombadil, a character and several chapters that were omitted from the first adaptation. In discussions with Peter Jackson, Colbert shared his enthusiasm for revisiting those absent chapters and believes he can create a new film that honors both the books and the original movies.

Peter Jackson, who directed all six Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films, has been somewhat out of the spotlight lately. After a decade without directing a fiction film, he’s been involved in some unique Beatles-related projects but hasn’t pursued the Tintin films. Nevertheless, he will reportedly play a role in this new addition to New Line’s Tolkien-inspired franchise. Currently titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, which could use a more fitting name, the screenplay will be crafted by Colbert, along with regular LotR writer Philippa Boyens and Colbert’s son, screenwriter Peter McGee.

With Colbert stepping down from The Late Show this summer—a move some fans believe was influenced by corporate decisions—he’ll have ample time to dedicate to the script. This project is clearly a passion for the Tolkien enthusiast, but it may be a while before we see any results, likely not until 2029 at the earliest.