Stephen Colbert Set to Write New 'Lord of the Rings' Film Stephen Colbert has been announced as a co-writer for a new installment in the Lord of the Rings franchise, marking his transition from hosting The Late Show to a new creative endeavor. The film, titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, will be the second of two upcoming projects in the series, following Hunt for Gollum, which is currently in development. Colbert joined director Peter Jackson to reveal the news on social media, confirming his involvement in the project. The film’s synopsis describes a story set 14 years after the events of the original trilogy, focusing on Sam’s daughter, Elanor, who uncovers a long-buried secret about the War of the Ring. The narrative explores why the conflict nearly ended before it began, intertwining past and present to expand the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Colbert’s role as a writer will be alongside Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, with Peter Jackson overseeing the production. Hunt for Gollum, which precedes Shadow of the Past, is set between The Hobbit trilogy and The Lord of the Rings series. It follows Aragorn and Gandalf’s search for Gollum to uncover the truth about Bilbo’s ring, which is revealed to be the One Ring. The film will star Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Andy Serkis as Gollum, and Elijah Wood as Frodo, with Kate Winslet in an undisclosed role. Andy Serkis will also direct Hunt for Gollum, continuing his work on the franchise. The project is produced by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, the trio responsible for the original Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. Zane Weiner is also listed as a producer. Warner Bros.’ New Line division is set to release Shadow of the Past in theaters on December 17, 2027.#peter_jackson #stephen_colbert #ian_mckellen #andy_serkis #philippa_boyens
Elijah Wood's Reactions To Being Asked About LOTR Return Are Just As Entertaining As Frodo Himself Fans of the best fantasy adaptations got a very pleasant surprise when it was announced a few years ago that we’d be going back to the shire for more tales from The Lord of the Rings universe with the upcoming The Hunt for Gollum. Not only will Andy Serkis return to play the iconic ring-corrupted hobbit, but he’s also directing the movie, which will reunite fans with others from the original Oscar-winning trilogy, like Ian McKellen, who’ll reprise Gandalf. There have been rumors that Elijah Wood is returning as Frodo, but his reactions to being asked about his potential involvement are just as entertaining as his famed character. What Did Elijah Wood Recently Say About Playing Frodo In The Hunt For Gollum? Look, whenever fans find out that we’re getting another film in a beloved franchise after many years, not only do we collectively lose our minds, but we instantly wonder who will come back from previous films. This is exactly what’s been going on with The Hunt for Gollum since it was announced. It was last August, however, when Ian McKellen noted his involvement and gave people “two secrets about the casting,” and added that not only is he in the film, but there's “a character in the movie called Frodo,” that everyone went crazy about the return of Elijah Wood as his heroic hobbit. There seems to be a problem, though, because since then Wood himself has been unwilling (or more likely, unable) to confirm or even deny his appearance in the new fantasy film, which is said to begin shooting sometime this year.#elijah_wood #ian_mckellen #the_hunt_for_gollum #andy_serkis #ready_or_not_2
