Stephen Colbert Pens New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie for Peter Jackson

Warner Bros. revealed a new addition to the Middle-earth slate on Tuesday night. The studio announced a second film titled Shadow of the Past, listed as a working title.

Creative team and collaborators

Stephen Colbert will pen a new ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie entry with input from Peter Jackson. He is developing the screenplay with his son, Peter McGee, and veteran adapter Philippa Boyens.

Shadow of the Past follows another upcoming project, Hunt for Gollum. That film is directed by Gollum actor Andy Serkis.

Story and source material

The story is set 14 years after Frodo’s death. It follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they retrace elements of their original journey.

Teasers say Sam’s daughter, Elanor, finds a long-buried secret. Her discovery suggests the War of the Ring was nearly lost before it began.

Connection to the books and films

Colbert said he drew inspiration from six Fellowship chapters omitted from the 2001 film. Those chapters run from “Three Is Company” through “Fog on the Barrow-Downs.”

He and his son devised a framing device to make that material fit the larger cinematic story. Peter Jackson and Boyens joined to shape the script.

Announcement and timeline

The reveal opened with a video message from director Peter Jackson. Jackson described working with a “very special partner,” before introducing Colbert.

Colbert described himself as a longtime fan who returns often to Tolkien’s text. He said it took years to gather the courage to call Jackson about the idea.

Scheduling and Colbert’s Late Show

Colbert worried at first about juggling the film with his nightly program. CBS announced last July that The Late Show will end in May 2026.

He added that he will be available to work on the script starting this summer. “I’ve got to finish the television show and I’ve got to write a movie script,” Colbert said.

Filmogaz.com will follow further developments and production updates as they emerge. Fans can expect more casting and scheduling details in the months ahead.