Peter Jackson Taps Stephen Colbert to Co-Write New Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past

Peter Jackson announced on March 25, 2026, that Stephen Colbert is co-writing a new film titled "The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past," based on early chapters of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring" that were omitted from Jackson's original 2001 adaptation. Jackson made the announcement in a video released on Warner Bros.' social channels, revealing that Colbert is developing the screenplay alongside his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, and Philippa Boyens, the saga's longtime co-author. The story draws from chapters three through eight of "The Fellowship of the Ring" and is set fourteen years after the death of Frodo Baggins. The announcement came on the same day Jackson shared an update on another upcoming film in the franchise, "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," directed by Andy Serkis and due for release in 2027.

Colbert's Tolkien obsession drives the new script Colbert, a self-described devoted fan of Tolkien's work, said the project began when he discussed the idea with his son Peter and then contacted Jackson roughly two years ago, receiving approval from both the director and Warner Bros. to move forward. The central creative ambition, as Colbert described it, was to produce a film completely faithful to both the books and the existing visual universe established by Jackson's films. The plot follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they retrace the early stages of their adventure, while Sam's daughter Elanor uncovers a long-buried secret connected to why the War of the Ring nearly was lost before it began. „You know what the books mean to me, and what your films mean to me, but the thing I found myself reading over and over again were the six chapters early on in 'The Fellowship' that y'all never developed into the first movie back in the day” — Stephen Colbert via The New York Times Colbert has spent decades weaving Tolkien references into his television work, speaking publicly about how the books inform his worldview, and has said he has lost count of how many times he has reread them. The project marks Colbert's debut as a developer of a major blockbuster film.

Late Show's end frees Colbert for Middle-earth The announcement coincides with the conclusion of Colbert's tenure on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS, which the network abruptly announced last summer it would cancel after the 2026 broadcast season, when Colbert's contract expires. Colbert acknowledged the timing directly in the announcement video, joking that he had not expected to have the time to write a film. „I did not think I would have the time. It turns out I'm going to be free starting this summer” — Stephen Colbert via The New York Times The convergence of the show's cancellation and the film project gives Colbert a clear path to devote himself fully to the screenplay work. The Late Show's end, described by The New York Times as an abrupt cancellation, marks a significant transition for one of American late-night television's most prominent figures.

Jackson heads to Cannes as the franchise keeps expanding This is not Colbert's first connection to Jackson's Middle-earth universe. Colbert made a small appearance in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" in 2013, and in 2019 he participated in the short film "Darrylgorn" alongside Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and Elijah Wood. Jackson, who is set to receive the Palme d'Or for Lifetime Achievement at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, also used the announcement video to update audiences on "The Hunt for Gollum." „Andy is doing an extraordinary job. The result is incredible. The screenplay is taking shape and I think it will be a really good film” — Peter Jackson via Adnkronos The broader Lord of the Rings franchise has expanded substantially in recent years, encompassing spinoffs, prequels, sequels, streaming series, and animated content built on the foundation of Jackson's early 2000s trilogy. "Shadows of the Past" aims to occupy a distinct space within that expanding universe by returning directly to Tolkien's original literary text for its source material.

Peter Jackson's original Lord of the Rings film trilogy was released between 2001 and 2003, adapting Tolkien's novels into a series that became a landmark of modern cinema. Jackson subsequently directed a three-part Hobbit film series released between 2012 and 2014. Philippa Boyens served as a co-writer on both trilogies. The franchise has since expanded with new productions including "The Hunt for Gollum," directed by Andy Serkis, who played the character Gollum in the original films, with a release scheduled for 2027.