Stephen Colbert’s Lord of the Rings film project remains in the works following the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros.

On October 4, whispers began circulating that Stephen Colbert’s Lord of the Rings project, first announced in March 2026, had been “paused” due to the merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. While this news was reported by an outlet, it appears that fans of Middle-earth can breathe a sigh of relief.

In March 2026, Peter Jackson, the director of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, unveiled a new film project in collaboration with Colbert and his son, screenwriter Peter McGee. Joining them is Philippa Boyens, a veteran screenwriter from both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. The project, tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past, received the green light from New Line and Warner Bros. Despite the merger creating a stir around various high-profile projects now under the new Skydance banner, Shadows of the Past appears to be moving forward without issue.

The initial report did not cite a specific source for its claims. However, Rob Keyes from another outlet quickly labeled the report as “inaccurate” in a post on X on October 5, clarifying that “Status is exactly as it was weeks ago. They’re still writing, no confirmed budget or shoot date, etc.” Warner Bros. also reached out to the reporting outlet, which later updated the story to clarify:

“WB has reached out to reiterate that it is not ‘canceled’ and is still in development. As we wrote, it wasn’t canceled/canned, which leaves the door open to still being made.”

The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past promises to be an exciting addition for fans of Tolkien’s universe. It aims to expand upon the original trilogy by adapting several early chapters from the first book that were omitted from Jackson’s films, particularly focusing on the hobbits’ journey from Hobbiton to Bree. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin’s initial trek was fraught with danger, as they were pursued by the Black Riders and found themselves ensnared in the Barrow-downs, nearly falling victim to the dark forces buried there.

The film will take place after the events of the original trilogy, following Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they embark on a quest to revisit their early adventures. According to a synopsis, fourteen years after Frodo’s departure, Sam, Merry, and Pippin set out to retrace their steps. Meanwhile, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, uncovers a long-hidden secret and is determined to learn why the War of the Ring was almost lost before it even began.

Colbert, a well-known Tolkien enthusiast, is a fitting choice for this project. Shadows of the Past is still in development, with no new updates available at this time. In the meantime, the next installment in the Lord of the Rings saga, The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027. This film will follow Aragorn as he searches the wild lands for clues about the elusive Smeagol before the Council of Elrond, a mission entrusted to him by Gandalf to uncover the origins of the mysterious ring that Bilbo first possessed, and later Frodo.

Production is currently underway on the 2027 Lord of the Rings spinoff.