Stephen Colbert is headed to the Shire.
The late-night talk show host will soon be ending his run on “The Late Show,” but his next big gig just might be his dream job. The Emmy winner has been tapped to write a new “Lord of the Rings” film.
Colbert is a lifelong J.R.R. Tolkien fan, and isn’t shy about expressing how he believes “there is no better film series” than “The Lord of the Rings,” calling it “the greatest film trilogy in movie history.”
On March 24, franchise director and Oscar winner Peter Jackson gave an update on the forthcoming film, “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” directed and starring Andy Serkis, best known as the titular character. He then brought in Colbert to announce a second film in the works and shared what the story will be about.
Read on to learn everything about Stephen Colbert’s new “Lord of the Rings” movie.
What Will the New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie Be About?
According to Colbert, inspiration for the film, tentatively titled, “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past,” came from his love of the six chapters that were omitted from the first film, “Fellowship of the Ring.”
“The chapter is ‘Three Is Company’ through ‘Fog on the Barrow-Downs,’” he said in the video with Jackson, sharing how he wanted to create something “completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies.”
According to the official synopsis for “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past,” the story begins “14 years after the passing of Frodo” when “Sam, Merry and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began.”
Working with Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, Colbert will co-write alongside Philippa Boyens, who worked on the past “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” franchises, and Peter McGee.
Who Has Been Cast in Stephen Colbert’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie?
No cast members have been announced at this time. Colbert and Jackson did not share if any past actors would be reprising their roles.
When Will Stephen Colbert’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie Come Out?
At this time there is no release date. “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” is currently in pre-production.
What Other ‘Lord of the Rings’ Films Are in the Works?
At this time, there is one other “Lord of the Rings” film in the works. Serkis, who portrayed Gollum, in the franchise is directing and starring in “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.”
The film is expected to be released in December 2027.
How Many ‘Lord of the Rings’ Films Are There?
There are six films in “The Lord of the Rings” franchise, beginning with 2001’s “The Fellowship of the Ring,” followed by 2002’s “The Two Towers” and the best picture Oscar winner “The Return of the King,” released in 2003.
Then there is “The Hobbit” trilogy, which serve as prequels. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was released in 2012, followed by 2013’s “The Desolation of Smaug” and 2014’s “The Battle of the Five Armies.”
Prime Video also developed and released a prequel series, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” in 2022. Confirmed for a third season, the show is set thousands of years before the events of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” books.
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