Stephen Colbert, a devoted fan, is set to create a new Lord of the Rings film.

Warner Bros. is developing a new entry in the Lord of the Rings saga, tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past, and it’s all thanks to J.R.R. Tolkien superfan and soon-to-be-former Late Show host Stephen Colbert. Colbert, alongside director Peter Jackson, revealed that they are collaborating on an adaptation of material from The Fellowship of the Ring that didn’t make it into Jackson’s original film trilogy.

In a video shared on Warner Bros.’ social media, Jackson provided an update on Andy Serkis’ project, The Hunt for Gollum, stating, “It’s looking amazing. The script is coming together really well, and I think it’s going to be a really good film.” He then announced another film in the works after The Hunt for Gollum, introducing Colbert as a “very special partner.”

Colbert elaborated on the project, which will draw from Chapter VIII of The Fellowship of the Ring, titled “Fog on the Barrow-downs.” He expressed his deep connection to both the books and the films, noting, “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. It’s basically the chapter ‘Three is Company’ through ‘Fog on the Barrow-downs.’ And I thought, ‘Oh, 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 that you guys had already made?'”

Colbert discussed the idea with his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, and created a “framing device for that story,” which he pitched to Jackson. They then collaborated with Philippa Boyens, a screenwriter for both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, and received the green light from New Line and Warner Bros. Colbert aims for the project to honor both the books and the films.

The synopsis for The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past reveals that fourteen years after Frodo’s departure, Sam, Merry, and Pippin embark on a journey to retrace their original adventure. Meanwhile, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, uncovers a long-buried secret and seeks to understand why the War of the Ring nearly faltered before it began.

“Fog on the Barrow-downs” follows Hobbits Frodo, Merry, and Pippin as they navigate the Barrow-downs, where they become ensnared in fog and captured by Barrow-wights. This chapter features Tom Bombadil, a character omitted from Jackson’s trilogy but later included in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Shadows of the Past’s take on “Fog on the Barrow-downs” certainly opens the door for Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan to reprise their iconic roles.

Colbert is well-known for his passion for Tolkien, often showcasing his Middle-earth knowledge on his talk show. Recently, he has geeked out over The Lord of the Rings with actors Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood, the latter rumored to return as Frodo in the future. Colbert even made a non-speaking cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, further cementing his fandom.

As of now, The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past does not have a confirmed release date, while the next film in the franchise, The Hunt for Gollum, is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.