The Lord of the Rings has one of its biggest fans in Stephen Colbert, the legendary comedian. Colbert has geeked out plenty over the years about his deep knowledge of the classic fantasy trilogy. The actor even got a cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013). Now, with The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (2015) coming to a close, Colbert has revealed that he will be following up the conclusion of his talk show by co-writing his own adventure into Middle-earth.
The story will reportedly focus on Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they revisit their earlier adventures, while Sam’s daughter, Elanor, learns more about the history of Middle-earth. Since this is effectively serving as an epilogue to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), it’s worth visiting the actual fates of the characters from the original story. Here’s what happened to the Fellowship of the Ring in the original timeline by J.R.R. Tolkien and how it could impact the next movie.
Frodo Baggins
As the nominal lead of The Lord of the Rings, it makes sense that Elijah Wood’s Frodo’s final fate is actually included in the movies—even as the time gap between the conclusion of the adventure and Frodo’s final days on Middle-earth leaves room for a new film. In both the book and the films, Frodo and the other Hobbits return to Hobbiton (although the book version requires the four to lead a rebellion against a still alive Saruman in the Scouring of the Shire).
It’s possible that an adaptation of the Scouring of the Shire is part of Colbert’s new film. Frodo eventually decides he needs to move on, leading him to leave everything behind to Sam and join Gandalf and Bilbo at the Grey Havens. In honor of their status as ring-bearers, both are allowed to move to the ethereal homelands of the Elves known as Valinor, which is one of the closing shots of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Samwise Gamgee
Frodo’s ever-loyal gardener and companion, Sean Astin’s Sam, is the beating heart of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Although heartbroken by his best friend’s departure, Sam still has his wife Rosie and his many children to keep him going. That’s where the film leaves him, and it would be odd to see the new film undercut that sweet emotional finale.
Sam doesn’t go with Frodo to Valinor then, but he does eventually join him. In the timeline established by The Lord of the Rings Appendix, Sam eventually rose to a position of leadership within the Hobbit community, being elected Mayor several times. Sixty years after the events of the trilogy, Rose passes away. A few months later, he gives the book originally written by Frodo to his eldest daughter, Elanor, and goes to the Grey Havens himself. As a ring-bearer himself—even if just during Frodo's apparent death after facing Shelob—Sam is also allowed to venture to Valinor.
Merry & Pippin
The other two Hobbits central to The Lord of the Rings, Dominic Monaghan’s Merry and Billy Boyd’s Pippin, offer a good dose of comic relief and heroic growth of their own. In their adventures separate from Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin end up fighting for Rohan and Gondor, respectively.
Two years after Sam took to the Grey Havens, Merry and Pippin both venture to Gondor at the request of Aragorn—carrying with them a copy of the book Bilbo started and Frodo finished. On the way to Gondor, Merry stays in Rohan with King Éomer in his final days. The pair eventually pass away while in Gondor, and are buried among the great kings of Gondor. The new film could pay off those connections to Gondor and Rohan by having the pair overtly use that experience. That could be similar to their role as leaders in the Scouring of the Shire, where their skills made them natural leaders among Hobbits.
Gandalf
The iconic wizard who drives a lot of the biggest moments of spectacle in The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf’s fate is closely connected to the Hobbits and Elves who venture to the Undying Lands. As expanded upon in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), Gandalf was originally a Maia spirit in the mystic realms, sent to Middle-earth to contend with the rising forces of evil.
Gandalf's final days are relatively unknown, even in the final timeline presented by J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s also possible that Colbert could use this opportunity to make sure Tom Bombadil makes it on screen after being cut from the original films. If Colbert’s film does dive into the story of Tom Bombadil, it could pay off his mention of going to have a long conversation in the book. Ultimately, Gandalf goes with Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, and Galadriel to Valinor.
Aragorn & Arwen
After having claimed the throne of Gondor and realizing his full destiny, Aragorn marries Arwen. This pays off the biggest romance in the trilogy, but also sadly sets the stage for Arwen’s vision in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) to eventually come to pass. A year after the events of the film trilogy, their son Eldarion is born, who goes on to rule after him.
120 years after the trilogy, Aragorn—whose extended lifespan is revealed in one of the scenes present in the extended version of The Two Towers—finally passes away. He is buried next to Merry and Pippin. A year later, Arwen also passes away, having given away her immortality to be with him. Aragorn is expected to be a major figure in the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (2027), which will flesh out the events shortly before the trilogy, while Colbert’s movie explores the aftermath.
Legolas & Gimli
The final two members of the Fellowship in Middle-earth, Legolas and Gimli, lead relatively low-key lives compared to their former companions. Gimli and Legolas spend years traveling Middle-earth together before splintering apart, completing their own respective duties. This could easily allow them to cameo or have brief appearances in the next The Lord of the Rings movie. Eventually, after Aragorn's passing, Legolas and Gimli venture to Valinor—making Gimli the only dwarf ever allowed to cross those shores.
It’s a sweet coda for the overall story of the Fellowship, but it would be a wild turn to see it brought to life on film, given that Tolkien only ever revealed these fates in a timeline released long after the books. There’s enough open room in that timeline for some new beats, however, so there’s always a chance the Fellowship could reunite in Colbert’s upcoming movie.
