Stephen Colbert to co-write new Lord of the Rings film after leaving The Late Show
Consensus Summary
Stephen Colbert will co-write a new Lord of the Rings film titled Shadow of the Past after leaving CBS’s The Late Show in May 2024. The project, announced via a video by Peter Jackson, follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin 14 years after the original trilogy, exploring a hidden secret tied to the War of the Ring through Sam’s daughter Elanor. Collaborating with Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and his son Peter McGee, Colbert’s involvement marks the second upcoming film in Tolkien’s expanded universe, following The Hunt for Gollum (2027). Both sources confirm the film’s setting and key cast but differ slightly on details like the son’s name and political context around Colbert’s show cancellation. The franchise’s massive success—earning over $5.9 billion—underpins this new chapter, blending fan devotion with Jackson’s legacy.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Stephen Colbert will co-write a new Lord of the Rings film titled 'The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past'
- The film will be produced by Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh
- Colbert’s The Late Show on CBS will air its last episode on May 21, 2024
- The film is set 14 years after the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, following Sam, Merry, and Pippin
- Colbert’s involvement was announced via a video on social media by Peter Jackson on Tuesday
- The film is the second upcoming Lord of the Rings project after 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' (2027)
- Colbert is an avid J.R.R. Tolkien fan and previously appeared in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
- The six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies have grossed a combined US$5.9 billion
- Colbert will collaborate with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens on the script
- The film will explore a 'long-buried secret' about the War of the Ring from Sam’s daughter Elanor’s perspective
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Colbert’s cancellation from CBS was criticized as politically motivated due to his criticism of Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Donald Trump
- Jackson jokingly referenced Colbert’s busy schedule post-The Late Show, saying Colbert would need to find time to adapt the film
- Colbert stated he was inspired by chapters 3–8 of The Fellowship of the Ring, which were not developed in the first movie
- The film’s script was initially outlined with Colbert’s son Peter Colbert (not Peter McGee, though ABC mentions Peter McGee)
- Colbert mentioned Warner Bros. loved his outline after he ‘scraped his courage into a pile’ to pitch the idea
- The film’s working title was first reported as 'The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past' by Deadline (Guardian cites this)
- ABC clarifies Colbert’s son is screenwriter Peter McGee (not Peter Colbert as mentioned in Guardian)
- ABC notes Tolkien’s original trilogy was published in three parts in 1954–1955 in the UK
- ABC states Jackson’s original trilogy grossed over US$2.9 billion ($4.1 billion worldwide including inflation adjustments)
- ABC emphasizes Colbert’s 11-year run on The Late Show ending in May 2024
- ABC mentions the film’s director has not been announced (not present in Guardian)
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Guardian mentions Colbert’s son as Peter Colbert (screenwriter), but ABC corrects this to Peter McGee
- Guardian reports the film’s working title was first reported by Deadline, while ABC does not attribute the title’s origin
- Guardian includes a specific quote about Colbert’s inspiration from chapters 3–8 of The Fellowship of the Ring, which ABC does not mention
- Guardian details the political context of Colbert’s cancellation (Paramount-Trump settlement), while ABC omits this detail
- Guardian states Jackson’s original trilogy grossed US$2.9 billion (with $4.1 billion including inflation), but ABC only mentions US$2.9 billion without specifying inflation adjustments
Source Articles
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