Stephen Colbert is stepping from late-night into Middle-earth. The comedian and longtime Tolkien fan will co-write a new Lord of the Rings film, The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, adapting early Fellowship chapters and arriving after Andy Serkis’ Hunt for Gollum. The move matters now because Colbert’s Late Show ends May 21, freeing him to dedicate himself to the project.

What was announced and when

On Tolkien Reading Day (March 25), director Peter Jackson shared a video update announcing that Colbert — alongside his son Peter McGee and veteran LOTR co-writer Philippa Boyens — will adapt material from Fellowship of the Ring chapters “Three is Company” through “Fog on the Barrow-Downs.” Jackson confirmed the new film will follow Serkis’ The Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum and praised Serkis’ progress, saying, “Andy’s doing a terrific job. It’s looking amazing. The script is coming together really well.”

Who’s involved

  • Stephen Colbert — co-writer and longtime Tolkien devotee.
  • Peter McGee — Colbert’s son and co-writer.
  • Philippa Boyens — co-writer from Jackson’s original trilogy.
  • Peter Jackson — presenting the project and supporting Serkis’ Gollum film.
  • Andy Serkis — directing and starring in The Hunt for Gollum, which will precede Shadow of the Past.

What the film will cover

The film, tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, springs from early chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring that Jackson’s 2001 adaptation did not fully develop. Colbert says he and his collaborators thought those six chapters could work as a standalone story “that could fit into the larger story,” aiming to be “completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies.”

Setting and characters

Reports say the new story is framed about 14 years after Return of the King and follows Sam, Merry and Pippin retracing the start of their earlier adventure. The plot will also put Sam’s daughter Elanor at the center of a new discovery that launches her own quest. No cast has been announced; earlier coverage noted only that returning actors such as Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan could be possible, but nothing is confirmed.

Why this matters now

Colbert’s involvement brings a mainstream, comedic-turned-devoted-fan voice to the franchise and a direct link to Jackson via Boyens. The timing is notable: Colbert’s Late Show concludes May 21, which the team said will free him to devote attention to the screenplay and production. Jackson’s announcement also arrives as the original trilogy’s 25th anniversary is being commemorated and as Serkis advances his Gollum project, signaling renewed theatrical focus on Tolkien adaptations.

Fan and industry reaction

Colbert has a history with the franchise — a cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, stage spoofs and a 2021 cast reunion on his show — which gives the news instant social-media buzz among fans. Industry response centers on curiosity: can a story built from early chapters and presented partly as a sequel/sidestory bridge both book purists and film audiences? Jackson and Boyens’ involvement is intended to reassure fans about faithfulness to the source material.

What’s next

There’s no release date yet for Shadow of the Past. Fans can expect further production updates after Colbert finishes his Late Show duties on May 21 and as Serkis’ Hunt for Gollum moves toward its theatrical release. Casting, a production timeline and distribution details have not been revealed.