Stephen Colbert's planned Lord of the Rings project, titled "The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past," remains in development and is unaffected by the recent merger between Paramount and Warner Bros., which led to the formation of Skydance. Initial reports suggesting the film was paused have been clarified.
Rumors began circulating on October 4, suggesting that the movie project, co-created by Colbert and his son Peter McGee with input from Lord of the Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens, was halted. These claims, first reported by Knight Edge Media, lacked specific sourcing. However, Warner Bros. has since reached out to clarify the project's status, confirming it is not canceled and is still in development. Screen Rant's Rob Keyes also commented on X, formerly Twitter, stating the project's status has not changed and that writing is ongoing, though a confirmed budget or shoot date has yet to be announced.
"The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past" aims to adapt early chapters from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring" that were not included in Peter Jackson's original film trilogy. Specifically, the movie will focus on the hobbits' journey from Hobbiton to Bree, their encounters with the Black Riders, and their near-fatal experience in the Barrow-downs. The film's synopsis indicates that after the events of the original trilogy, Sam, Merry, and Pippin will retrace their initial adventure, while Sam's daughter, Elanor, uncovers a secret tied to the near loss of the War of the Ring.
Colbert, a known aficionado of Tolkien's work, is attached to this project. Meanwhile, another Lord of the Rings film, "The Hunt for Gollum," directed by Andy Serkis, is slated for release on December 17, 2027. This film will explore Aragorn's pursuit of Smeagol in the wilderness, a mission assigned by Gandalf to investigate the origins of the One Ring.