Stephen Colbert to Co-Write Tolkien-Inspired Film Set in the Lord of the Rings Universe

Stephen Colbert, the American comedian and outgoing late-night television host, is set to write a new film based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series. The announcement was made by director Peter Jackson in a video released on 24 March, revealing that the project’s working title is *The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past*. Colbert, an enthusiastic fan of Tolkien’s work who frequently discusses the books on his show, explained that the idea originated while he was re-reading *The Fellowship of the Ring*. He was particularly drawn to six early chapters omitted from Jackson’s 2001 film adaptation and saw potential to expand them into their own narrative.

Colbert has collaborated on the screenplay with his son, Peter Colbert, who appeared alongside him in *The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug* (2013). The film will be produced by long-time Tolkien collaborators Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, and it will reportedly focus on the chapter “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, which features the beloved character Tom Bombadil—absent from previous cinematic and radio versions.

The announcement comes as Colbert prepares to leave *The Late Show* in May 2026 following its cancellation by Paramount. The new project adds to the growing resurgence of Tolkien adaptations, following the announcement of Andy Serkis’s upcoming *The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum*, scheduled for release in December 2027.