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Stephen Colbert<\/strong><\/a> has lined up his next project after The Late Show<\/em> ends!<\/p>\n The 61-year-old comedian and writer just revealed that he\u2019ll be penning the next Lord of the Rings<\/strong><\/a><\/em> movie, tentatively titled, The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past<\/em>, according to Deadline<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n Keep reading to find out more\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The big news was announced by longtime LOTR<\/em> writer\/director\/producer Peter Jackson<\/strong> and Stephen<\/strong> himself, through a video in honor of Tolkien Reading Day and the destruction of the One Ring.<\/p>\n Peter<\/strong> first shared an update on the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum<\/em>, before bringing on Stephen<\/strong> for the announcement. <\/p>\n \u201cYou know what the books mean to me, and what your films mean to me, but the thing I found myself reading over and over again were the six chapters early on in \u2018The Fellowship [of the Ring]\u2018 that y\u2019all never developed into the first movie back in the day,\u201d Stephen<\/strong> shared. \u201cIt\u2019s basically the chapter is \u2018Three Is Company\u2019 through \u2018Fog on the Barrow-Downs,\u2019 and I thought, \u2018Oh wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story.\u2019 Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI started talking it over with my son Peter<\/strong>, who\u2019s also a screenwriter, and we worked out what we thought would work, especially as a framing device for that story. It took me a few years to scrape my courage into a pile to give you a call, but about two years ago I did. You liked it enough to talk to me about it and ever since then the two of us have been working with the brilliant Philippa Boyens<\/strong> on how to develop the story,\u201d he continued. \u201cAnd we recently took it to Richard Brener<\/strong> at New Line, and Pam Abdi<\/strong> and Mike De Luca<\/strong> at Warner Bros, and I could not be happier to say that they loved it and so that\u2019s what we\u2019re gonna be working on\u201d<\/p>\n Peter<\/strong> then asked, \u201cNow, are you sure you got the time though, because you know\u2026,\u201d before Stephen<\/strong> joked about The Late Show<\/em> coming to an end. <\/p>\n \u201cThat, I did not think I would have the time, as much as I love it, I knew I couldn\u2019t do that and do the show at the same time, but it turns out I\u2019m gonna be free starting this summer,\u201d the Late Show<\/em> host said. \u201cSo, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I\u2019ve got to finish a television show, and I\u2019ve got to write a movie script, but I will see you all in the Shire.\u201d<\/p>\n If you didn\u2019t know, Stephen<\/strong> is a big, longtime fan of The Lord of the Rings<\/em>!<\/p>\n The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum<\/em> is being directed by Andy Serkis<\/strong>, who will also return to play Gollum, with filming taking place from May through October in New Zealand. It is currently scheduled for release in December 2027.<\/p>\n In case you missed it, find out what actress was recently announced to join<\/a> the cast!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n