Renowned comedian and avid fan of the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, Stephen Colbert, is embarking on a new project after concluding his 11-year run on "The Late Show" in May. He has announced that he will be a co-writer and developer for a new film within the popular "Lord of the Rings" franchise. Colbert revealed this news in a video message alongside Peter Jackson, the director of the "LOTR" films.
Redaksiya reports that Colbert approached Jackson, saying, "You know what the books mean to me, what your films mean to me." Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson led the team behind the original "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogies, which grossed approximately $6 billion. This new film will be the second in a series of two new "Lord of the Rings" films produced by Warner Bros. Discovery. Warner Bros. shared the video message on its social media accounts. According to Deadline, the tentative title of the film will be "Shadow of the Past." Jackson also provided information about the next "LOTR" film, "The Hunt for Gollum," which is slated for release in 2027. This film will be directed by and star franchise actor Andy Serkis.
Colbert stated that the next installment will be based on parts of "The Fellowship of the Ring" book that were not included in the original films. He noted, "What I have read many times is, there were six chapters at the beginning of the book (The Fellowship of the Ring) that you guys didn't turn into the first movie... and I thought, 'Oh, wait, maybe this could be its own story that fits into a larger story.'" Colbert mentioned discussing this idea with his son, screenwriter Peter Meqi, to develop the story's framework. "It took me a few years to work up the courage to call you, but I did about two years ago. You were gracious enough to talk to me," Colbert told Jackson. Colbert noted that he, Meqi, and Jackson are working on the story development with screenwriter Philippa Boyens. "I can't be happier to say that they liked it and we're going to be working on it," Colbert added. Colbert had announced in January that the final episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" would air on May 21. CBS had decided to cancel the high-rated evening show last year, citing financial pressures. In his final announcement, Colbert alluded to the show's approaching end, saying, "it turns out I'm going to be free this summer." It is no secret that Colbert has been a long-time fan of the fantasy series, frequently referencing the books and films. The Tolkien expert even moderated a "Hobbit" panel in full costume at Comic-Con in 2014.