Stephen Colbert and son set to co-write Lord of the Rings movie

Stephen Colbert, a longtime admirer of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is set to co-write a new Lord of the Rings film, The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, alongside his son Peter McGee and series veteran Philippa Boyens.
Warner Bros. officially announced the project on Wednesday, with producer Peter Jackson revealing Colbert’s involvement in a social media video, calling him a “very special partner” in the making of the film.
Colbert explained that he approached Jackson a few years ago after gathering the courage to pitch his idea. “About two years ago I did, and you liked it enough to talk to me about it. Since then, we’ve been working with the brilliant Philippa Boyens to develop the story,” he said.
The film will focus on a new adventure for Sam, Merry, and Pippin, set 14 years after Frodo’s passing. Colbert’s inspiration came from six chapters in The Fellowship of the Ring that were not fully developed in the original movies.
He and his son conceptualised a framing device to expand this part of the story, ensuring the new film remains faithful to both Tolkien’s books and the cinematic universe already established.
Shadow of the Past will follow Andy Serkis’ upcoming The Hunt of Gollum, which is slated to release next year.
Colbert emphasised the personal significance of Tolkien’s work, noting his admiration for both the novels and the original film adaptations.
Colbert is currently concluding his tenure on The Late Show on CBS, with the final episode scheduled for May 21, after the network announced its cancellation last July.
Even as he steps away from late-night television, Colbert continues to engage in creative projects, marking an unexpected yet exciting addition to the Lord of the Rings franchise and promising fans a story that honors the legacy of Middle Earth while exploring new adventures. (AP)