Stephen Colbert, a well-known admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, is collaborating with his son on a new movie set in the world of “The Lord of the Rings.” Warner Bros. revealed on Wednesday that Colbert, along with seasoned series contributors Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee (Colbert’s son), will be co-writing the script for “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past.” The involvement of Colbert was unveiled by producer Peter Jackson in a social media video introducing a special partner for the film.
Colbert shared that after a conversation with his son a few years ago, he came up with a potential concept for the movie. This new story will follow Sam, Merry, and Pippin on a fresh adventure set 14 years after Frodo’s passing. Colbert expressed his deep attachment to the books and films, highlighting his repeated readings of certain chapters from “The Fellowship of the Ring” that were not included in the original movie adaptation.
“The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” adds to the extensive line of adaptations from the “Lord of the Rings” universe, following Peter Jackson’s trilogy and subsequent prequels based on “The Hobbit.” Additionally, Andy Serkis’ upcoming film “The Hunt for Gollum,” produced by Jackson, is scheduled for release next year. Concurrently, the Amazon Prime prequel series, “The Rings of Power,” not associated with Jackson’s works, made headlines for being one of the most expensive shows ever created, receiving positive reviews upon its first season release in 2022.
In the realm of video games, while titles like “The Return of the King” and the “Middle-Earth” series were well-received, “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” in 2023 faced criticism as one of the worst video games. On the other hand, “Tales of the Shire” from Wētā Workshop garnered mixed reviews. Rumors suggest a new “Lord of the Rings” game is in development to rival “Hogwarts Legacy.”
As an avid fan of the franchise, Colbert has demonstrated his profound knowledge of “The Lord of the Rings” universe, often featuring cast and crew members on his show and engaging in trivia challenges. In a tribute to mark the 20th anniversary of “The Fellowship of the Ring” in 2021, Colbert reunited much of the cast for a rap tribute on “The Late Show.” The show is set to conclude with its final episode airing on May 21 following the network’s decision to cancel it last July.
