Peter Jackson has revealed that Stephen Colbert's involvement in a new Lord of the Rings film provided the comedian with a crucial outlet following the cancellation of his long-running CBS talk show.
Colbert, a devoted fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy saga who previously appeared in Jackson's 2013 film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, is currently writing a screenplay for a new movie titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. The project emerged while he was re-reading The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of the series, and realised that certain sections omitted from Jackson's original trilogy could be expanded into a standalone narrative.
Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, where Jackson received an honorary Palme d'Or, the director explained that Colbert had already begun developing the adaptation before learning that CBS would end The Late Show. Its final episode is scheduled for 21 May.
Jackson stated: "I think Steven's actually really happy. I think it helped him process what was rather shocking. So it was like, okay, one day he's going to be a late-night talk show host and the next day he's going to be a Tolkien scriptwriter."
A collaborative effort
Colbert initially contacted Jackson roughly a year ago, prior to the cancellation news, with his concept. He then collaborated with Jackson's long-time associate Philippa Boyens for a year to refine the project, even travelling to New Zealand during the process. His son, Peter McGee, who appeared alongside Colbert in The Hobbit 13 years ago, also contributed to the plot outline.
The film will primarily focus on the eighth chapter of The Fellowship of the Ring, titled "Fogs on the Barrow-downs", and will introduce Tom Bombadil, a beloved character absent from Jackson's earlier adaptations. It is intended to follow Andy Serkis's forthcoming feature The Hunt for Gollum, scheduled for 2027.
Synopsis and background
The official synopsis reads: "Fourteen years after the passing of Frodo – 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."
In July 2025, CBS cancelled The Late Show, citing a "financial decision." The move sparked speculation as it followed Colbert's criticism of Paramount over a controversial $16 million settlement with US President Donald Trump in a lawsuit linked to 60 Minutes. Colbert described the settlement as a "big fat bribe," given Paramount was simultaneously seeking federal approval for its merger with Skydance Media. CBS staffers told The Independent it was a continuation of the "Trump shakedown" that began with the settlement.
