Stephen Colbert Teams Up with Peter Jackson to Co-Write New Lord of the Rings Film

Stephen Colbert is expanding his creative portfolio beyond late-night television by co-writing a new Lord of the Rings film alongside Oscar-winning screenwriter Philippa Boyens and producer Peter McGee. The announcement, confirmed through an Instagram post by Peter Jackson, reveals that Colbert’s project will serve as a companion piece to Andy Serkis’ upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is set to begin production in New Zealand later in 2026.

Colbert, a longtime fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, shared that the idea for the film originated years ago when he revisited early chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring that were not adapted into Peter Jackson’s original trilogy. Specifically, he cited chapters “Three Is Company” through “Fog on the Barrow-downs” as narrative material ripe for expansion. After discussing the concept with his son, likewise a screenwriter, Colbert approached Jackson approximately two years ago to explore the possibility of developing a faithful adaptation that bridges Tolkien’s text and Jackson’s cinematic vision.

The collaboration marks Colbert’s first major creative endeavor since announcing that The Late Show will conclude its run with a final episode on May 21, 2026. His involvement in the Lord of the Rings franchise builds on prior appearances, including a widely viewed segment where Andy Serkis reprised his role as Gollum to read former President Donald Trump’s tweets on The Late Show, and a Facebook video celebrating Serkis’ birthday with a playful nod to the “Return of our King.”

While details about the film’s title, release date, or casting remain undisclosed, the project underscores the enduring cultural influence of Tolkien’s Middle-earth and highlights how passionate fans can transition into official contributors to the legendarium. With Philippa Boyens—co-writer of all six Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films—guiding the screenplay, the new film aims to maintain strict continuity with both the literary source and the established movie canon.

As production prepares to shift to New Zealand for Serkis’ directorial debut, Colbert’s writing partnership signals a thoughtful expansion of the Lord of the Rings universe—one rooted in reverence for the source material and a desire to explore untold stories from Tolkien’s legendarium.