Stephen Colbert pitched new 'Lord of the Rings' before CBS cancelled his show, Peter Jackson says

The film is reportedly titled 'The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past' and will be a sequel to Gollum's film

Stephen Colbert was already developing a new The Lord of the Rings project long before CBS announced the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, according to filmmaker Peter Jackson.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Jackson told Variety that Colbert first approached him roughly a year ago with an idea for a new Tolkien-inspired movie.

“He phoned me up a year ago, before he knew his show was going to finish, and said, ‘I’ve got an idea for a Tolkien movie based on the books that I think would be really good,’” Jackson said.

Jackson said he was impressed by the concept and connected Colbert with longtime collaborator Philippa Boyens. The pair have since spent the past year developing a treatment for the project, with Colbert even traveling to New Zealand to work on the screenplay.

The upcoming film is reportedly titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past and will serve as a sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is being directed by Andy Serkis.

According to a previously released logline, the story is set 14 years after Frodo Baggins departs Middle-earth, following Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took as they retrace the earliest steps of their legendary journey.

Jackson said Colbert’s involvement in the screenplay became an unexpected creative outlet after CBS announced that The Late Show would end in May 2026 after 11 seasons. The director suggested the writing process helped Colbert navigate the sudden career shift.

Colbert, a lifelong Tolkien enthusiast, has often showcased his deep knowledge of Middle-earth in interviews and comedy sketches. He also made a cameo appearance in Jackson’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

With The Late Show nearing its final episode, Colbert appears to be channeling his passion for J.R.R. Tolkien into a major new chapter in his career.