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 his role as host of The Late Show on CBS in May 2024. The project, developed with his son Peter McGee (or Peter Colbert, depending on the source) and Philippa Boyens, will explore the lives of Sam, Merry, and Pippin 14 years after the events of the original trilogy, uncovering a hidden secret about the War of the Ring. The film is the second upcoming project in Tolkienās universe, following The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis. Both articles agree on key details like the filmās setting, cast, and the combined box office success of the existing movies, but differ on minor specifics such as the sonās name, the exact timing of the announcement, and additional context around Colbertās show cancellation. The Guardian provides more political and personal commentary, while ABC focuses on the cultural significance of Tolkienās work and the filmās development.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
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
- Colbertās The Late Show on CBS aired its last episode on May 21, 2024
- The film is set 14 years after the events of The Lord of Rings trilogy, focusing on Sam, Merry, and Pippin
- Colbertās son, Peter McGee, is co-writing the film alongside Philippa Boyens
- The film is the second upcoming project in Tolkienās universe, following 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' (released December 17, 2027)
- The six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies have grossed a combined US$5.9 billion
- Colbert is an avid, lifelong J.R.R. Tolkien fan and appeared in Peter Jacksonās 2013 film 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'
- The film will explore a 'long-buried secret' about why the War of the Ring was nearly lost before it began, as revealed by Samās daughter, Elanor
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Colbertās involvement was announced in a video on social media by Peter Jackson on Tuesday (date not specified in ABC)
- Colbert referenced chapters 3 to 8 of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' as inspiration, which were not developed in the first movie
- Colbert planned the outline with his son Peter Colbert (not Peter McGee, though ABC mentions Peter McGee)
- CBSās cancellation of The Late Show was criticized as politically motivated due to Colbertās criticism of Paramountās $16 million settlement with Donald Trump
- Jackson joked about Colbert needing to find time to adapt the film, referencing the cancellation of The Late Show
- Colbert said he was 'free starting this summer' after The Late Showās end, to which Jackson replied 'Isnāt that fortunate?'
- The filmās working title is mentioned in a press release (not explicitly stated in Guardian)
- No director has been announced for the film (not mentioned in Guardian)
- The film is described as a 'new chapter' for Colbert, emphasizing his 'noted devotee' status of Tolkienās world
- The ABC article includes a Reuters photo credit (Mario Anzuoni) and AP photo credit (Jae C Hong) for Colbertās image
- The article notes Tolkienās epic fantasy was published in three parts in 1954 and 1955 in the UK
- Jacksonās trilogy grossed more than US$2.9 billion ($4.1 billion worldwide) and won multiple awards, including Best Picture for 'The Return of the King'
- The article does not mention the $16 million settlement or political criticism surrounding Colbertās show cancellation
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian mentions Colbertās son as Peter Colbert (screenwriter), while ABC refers to him as Peter McGee (screenwriter)
- The Guardian states Colbertās involvement was announced in a video on social media by Peter Jackson on Tuesday, but ABC does not specify the day of the announcement
- The Guardian reports Jacksonās trilogy grossed US$2.9 billion ($4.1 billion worldwide) and won multiple awards, while ABC states the combined gross of all six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies is US$5.9 billion (ABC does not specify the exact gross for Jacksonās trilogy alone)
- The Guardian includes a quote about CBSās cancellation being politically motivated due to Colbertās criticism of Paramountās $16 million settlement with Donald Trump, which is not mentioned in ABC
- The Guardian notes Colbertās cameo in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' alongside his wife and children, while ABC does not mention the children
Source Articles
Stephen Colbert to write new Lord of the Rings film after end of the Late Show
Comedian and avid Tolkien fan to write the Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, a new Peter Jackson-produced film based on unadapted chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring Stephen Colbert has lined ...
Talk show host Stephen Colbert to co-write new Lord of the Rings movie
Talk show host Stephen Colbert, famous devotee to JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth, is co-writing a Lord of the Rings movie with his son....