Stephen Colbert to co-write new Lord of the Rings film after leaving Late Show

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• 🔥 Quick Facts
• A Tolkien Superfan’s Dream Becomes Reality
• The Story Takes Shape Two Years Ago
• What Happens When He Leaves The Late Show
• This Comes After Years of Tolkien Connection
• Will Stephen Colbert Become the Next Great Tolkien Adapter?
  • Sources

Stephen Colbert just shocked Hollywood with a dream career move. The late-night host will co-write a brand new Lord of the Rings film after leaving The Late Show on May 21. Peter Jackson announced this stunning project today, and superfans everywhere are losing their minds.

A Tolkien Superfan’s Dream Becomes Reality

Stephen Colbert has been a lifelong J.R.R. Tolkien fan, and his passion runs deep. He even appeared in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug back in 2013 with his wife and children. Peter Jackson has publicly stated he’s never met a bigger Tolkien geek in his life. Today’s announcement proves dreams do come true.

In an emotional video announcement, Colbert explained how he spent years re-reading The Fellowship of the Ring. He became fixated on chapters three through eight, the early journey sections that Jackson’s original film never developed. “Maybe that could be its own story,” Colbert said in the video announcement.

The Story Takes Shape Two Years Ago

Colbert spent two years building courage to call Peter Jackson directly. He worked with his son Peter McGee, himself an accomplished screenwriter, to outline the concept. “It took me a few years to scrape my courage into a pile,” Colbert told Jackson in their announcement video. The pitch resonated immediately.

The writing team then partnered with Philippa Boyens, the Oscar-winning screenwriter from the original trilogy. Together they’ve crafted Shadow of the Past, which follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin fourteen years after Frodo’s journey ends. The plot involves Sam’s daughter Elanor uncovering secrets about the War of the Ring.

What Happens When He Leaves The Late Show

Detail	Information
Final Episode Date	May 21, 2026
Show Duration	11 years on CBS (2015-2026)
Next Project Starts	Summer 2026 (post-Late Show)
Producer	Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema

Warner Bros. executives loved the pitch, including studio heads Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca. In the announcement video, Jackson joked that Colbert would finally have time after the Late Show cancellation. “It turns out I’m going to be free starting this summer,” Colbert replied with a smile.

“Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made?”

— Stephen Colbert, Filmmaker and Late Show Host

This Comes After Years of Tolkien Connection

Colbert owns replica props gifted directly by cast members over the years. Viggo Mortensen gave him Andúril from the films, and Peter Jackson himself gifted him Sting from The Hobbit production. His collection represents the deep bonds formed between superfans and filmmakers. Now he joins that inner circle as co-writer.

The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie franchises have grossed a combined $5.9 billion worldwide. This new film arrives after Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, hits theaters on December 17, 2027. The stakes have never been higher for Colbert’s first major screenwriting role.

Will Stephen Colbert Become the Next Great Tolkien Adapter?

Fans are asking whether Colbert’s passion will translate into an award-winning screenplay. He’s only known as a late-night host and political commentator, not a screenwriter. But his son Peter McGee brings real screenwriting chops to the partnership. Combined with Philippa Boyens, an Oscar winner, the team looks solid.

“Completely faithful to the books” and “completely faithful to the movies”, that’s the mandate. Can it be done? Only time will tell. Yet one thing is certain: Stephen Colbert is trading late-night laughs for Middle-earth magic, and the internet cannot wait to see what comes next.

Sources

• The Guardian – Stephen Colbert announcement as co-writer of new Lord of the Rings film directed by Peter Jackson
• The Hollywood Reporter – Details on Shadow of the Past screenplay and production team with Philippa Boyens
• Deadline – Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema confirm project and release strategy