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Stephen Colbert to co-write a new Lord of the Rings film after leaving The Late Show

2 hours ago2 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

Stephen Colbert is co-writing a new Lord of the Rings film titled Shadow of the Past after leaving his role as host of The Late Show on CBS, which ended on May 21 2024. The project involves Colbert collaborating with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens, one of the original trilogy’s screenwriters, with Peter Jackson producing. The film is the second in a pair of upcoming Tolkien adaptations, following The Hunt for Gollum set for December 2027. Both sources confirm Colbert’s deep connection to Tolkien’s work and his involvement in Jackson’s previous films, though details about the film’s plot and production differ slightly. The Guardian adds political context to Colbert’s departure, linking it to CBS’s cancellation amid criticism over a settlement with Donald Trump, while ABC focuses more on the film’s development and financial success of the original franchise. The combined gross figures for the films vary between sources, with ABC citing $2.9 billion for the original trilogy and The Guardian stating $5.9 billion for the combined six films and Hobbit trilogy.

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Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • Stephen Colbert will co-write a new Lord of the Rings film titled 'Shadow of the Past'
  • The film will be developed alongside Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee (Colbert’s son)
  • Peter Jackson is involved in producing the film and made the announcement via social media
  • The film is the second of two upcoming Lord of the Rings projects from Warner Bros Discovery and New Line Cinema
  • The first film, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,' is set for release on December 17, 2027
  • Colbert’s The Late Show on CBS aired its final episode on May 21, 2024
  • The original Lord of the Rings trilogy grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide
  • Colbert is a lifelong J.R.R. Tolkien fan and appeared in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

ABC News
  • The film’s working title is explicitly mentioned as 'Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past' in the press release
  • CBS announced cancellation of The Late Show in July 2023, not July 2024
  • The original trilogy’s third installment, The Return of the King, won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2003
  • The combined gross of the six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies is stated as $4.1 billion (including inflation adjustment)
  • Colbert’s involvement was revealed by producer Peter Jackson in a video released on social media by Reuters
THEGUARDIAN
  • The film is set 14 years after Frodo’s passing and follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin retracing their journey
  • Sam’s daughter, Elanor, discovers a secret about the War of the Ring nearly being lost before it began
  • Colbert referenced chapters 3–8 of The Fellowship of the Ring, which were not developed in the first film
  • The cancellation of The Late Show was criticized as politically motivated due to Colbert’s criticism of Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Donald Trump
  • The film will be produced by Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh
  • Colbert joked about finding time to adapt the film after The Late Show’s cancellation, referencing CBS’s decision
  • The combined gross of the six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies is stated as $5.9 billion

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • ABC states the original trilogy grossed $2.9 billion (without inflation adjustment), while The Guardian states $5.9 billion for the combined six films and Hobbit trilogy
  • ABC mentions CBS announced The Late Show cancellation in July 2023, but The Guardian does not specify the exact month of the announcement
  • The Guardian states the combined gross of the six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies is $5.9 billion, while ABC states $4.1 billion (including inflation adjustment)
  • The Guardian provides specific plot details about the film’s storyline (Sam’s daughter’s secret, retracing the journey), which are not mentioned in ABC
  • ABC does not mention the political context of The Late Show’s cancellation, while The Guardian highlights it as a controversial decision

Source Articles

ABC

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....

4 hours ago
GUARDIAN

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 ...

20 hours ago