Overview
- Peter Jackson and Warner Bros. announced in a joint Instagram video on Wednesday that Stephen Colbert will help write a new Lord of the Rings feature with the working title Shadows of the Past.
- Warner Bros.’ synopsis sets the story 14 years after Frodo’s death, with Sam, Merry, and Pippin retracing their first steps as Sam’s daughter Elanor uncovers a long-hidden secret about why the Ring War nearly failed at the start.
- Colbert will write with his son Peter McGee and veteran LOTR scribe Philippa Boyens, and he said he will have time to focus on the script after his Late Show ends on May 21, 2026.
- Jackson said The Hunt for Gollum remains on track for a December 2027 theatrical release, and Shadows of the Past will be developed after that with no date set, while reported casting chatter has not been fully confirmed by the studio.
- The film aims to adapt six early chapters of The Fellowship—including material like Tom Bombadil that never appeared in Jackson’s movies—reflecting a broader push as New Line and rights-holder Embracer Group back multiple new Middle‑earth projects.