Stephen Colbert to Co-Write New Lord of the Rings Film Adapting Early Fellowship Chapters

Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema have announced that Stephen Colbert will co-write a new Lord of the Rings movie. The project, with the working title 'Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past,' will adapt six early chapters from J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Fellowship of the Ring' that were not included in the initial film adaptation. Colbert, a known Tolkien enthusiast who previously appeared in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,' will collaborate on the screenplay with his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, and veteran Lord of the Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens. Filmmaker Peter Jackson revealed the partnership in a social media video released at midnight on a recent Wednesday, where he introduced Colbert via video call. Colbert explained in the video that the film will cover chapters from 'Three is Company' through 'Fog on the Barrow-downs,' envisioning them as a standalone narrative that fits within the broader cinematic and literary canon. He described developing a framing device for the story with his son. According to a studio synopsis, the plot follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin fourteen years after Frodo's death as they retrace their initial journey, while Sam's daughter Elanor investigates a hidden secret that nearly caused the War of the Ring to fail prematurely. This film is one of two upcoming entries in the franchise, with Andy Serkis directing 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,' scheduled for release in December 2027. 'Shadow of the Past' will follow that film, though no specific release date has been set. Colbert noted he will have time to work on the project starting in the summer, following the conclusion of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' which CBS canceled last year after Colbert criticized parent company Paramount over a lawsuit settlement. Paramount is also involved in a major acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Colbert concluded his remarks by humorously referencing his busy schedule and the Shire.