The Lord of the Rings franchise continues to expand. Once thought impossible to adapt for the screen, J. R. R. Tolkien’s work now enjoys multiple adaptations from different directions. Prime Video’s loose adaptation via The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022) is still going strong, telling the story of Middle-earth’s Second Age through one of the most expensive TV series ever produced. Meanwhile, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (2027), a story set between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies, is in pre-production from Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.
However, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema aren’t stopping with one live-action movie. No one was expecting the announcement from the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson, of another live-action film. In what was supposed to be an update on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Jackson instead announced a new movie with the working title The Lord of the Rings: The Shadow of the Past (2028), and both the plot and the surprising writer the film tapped left fans with mixed feelings.
Who Will Write ‘LOTR: The Shadow Of The Past’?
In the announcement video, Peter Jackson unveils Stephen Colbert as one of the surprise screenwriters behind The Lord of the Rings: The Shadow of the Past. Colbert is just about the last person we were expecting to write the movie. Although he is a major Tolkien fan, he is known for his work on The Daily Show (1996) and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015). While he has dabbled in voice acting, writing, and producing, much of his work pertains to comedy or talk shows.
Still, Colbert discussed how his favorite part of the books was six earlier chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring, which the movies did not adapt. He began to consider making a film from these six chapters and brought the idea to his screenwriter son, Peter McGee. After years of framing the story, Colbert mustered the courage to bring the idea to Jackson, who was receptive.
As if it were destiny, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place when CBS abruptly announced the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Colbert unexpectedly found himself with quite a bit of free time beginning in the summer of 2026, which seemed the perfect opportunity to delve into The Lord of the Rings.
What Is The New ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Movie About?
Non-book readers will be curious what exactly The Lord of the Rings: The Shadow of the Past will tackle. According to Colbert, it will cover chapters 3 through 8 of The Fellowship of the Ring, which follow Frodo, Pippin, Merry, and Sam as they make arrangements to begin Frodo’s quest. In the chapters, Frodo sells his home in Bag End to leave the Shire without suspicion.
He and his friends make the trek to a new home in Crickhollow, meeting Farmer Maggot and gathering some mushrooms along the way. From there, they venture into the Old Forest and the Barrow-downs. Although threatened by Old Man Willow and the Barrow-wights of the Barrow-downs, the Hobbits’ old friend Tom Bombadil saves them. However, it seems these chapters will only inspire the new Lord of the Rings movie, rather than enjoy a direct adaptation, as Deadline reports the film will actually take place 14 years after Frodo’s passing and follows Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Sam’s daughter Eleanor as they retrace the steps of their original journey.
Why The New ‘LOTR’ Movie Is Dividing Fans
The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past movie is already dividing fans, who reacted with varying degrees of surprise or dismay. On the one hand, many were skeptical of Colbert’s involvement and questioned how six chapters could constitute an entire movie. However, others have expressed tentative excitement and optimism. After all, Colbert and McGee are also collaborating with Philippa Boyens, the brilliant co-writer behind The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. They’re not going into this project alone with Jackson and Boyens’ involvement.
In addition to strong creative talent, the story has potential. Many fans were disappointed that Bombadil didn’t make it into Jackson’s movie, and the mere idea of his presence is enough to get fans’ hopes running high. Doubts remain, though, especially because the chapters aren’t enough to fill a movie plot. Plus, treading into loose inspiration territory could invite the same criticisms that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power faced. Still, another detail about Colbert may reassure viewers that the movie is in good hands.
Was Stephen Colbert In ‘The Hobbit’?
It’s important to know that Colbert isn’t just some random talk show host jumping on The Lord of the Rings bandwagon. He’s a massive fan of Tolkien, to the point you might even credit him as an expert in the Tolkienverse. Jackson himself has declared Colbert one of the biggest Lord of the Rings fans he has ever met. In fact, he rewarded Colbert’s fandom with a cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013).
The talk show host appears as a Lake-town spy in a six-second scene alongside his wife and children. His Hobbit cameo is just the tip of the iceberg in his serious credentials as a Lord of the Rings fan, boding well for a potentially faithful and respectful adaptation.
