Warner Bros/CBS
Warner Bros. has announced another sequel film to the Lord of the Rings trilogy that will be written by Stephen Colbert. Fans of the iconic series, however, seem less than thrilled.
In an video alongside Peter Jackson on Tuesday, March 24, it was announced that Stephen Colbert will be writing a Lord of the Rings sequel alongside Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee.
The film is tentatively title Shadow of the Past and will be based on the Fog On The Barrow-Downs chapter of J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic book.
Warner Bros. announces a Lord of the Rings sequel titled Shadow of the Past is being written by Stephen Colbert
Check out the official announcement video and synopsis for the film below.
“14 years after the passing of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began.”
In honor of Tolkien Reading Day and the destruction of the One Ring, we bring you a special announcement. pic.twitter.com/ufh9RLBIxO
— Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) March 25, 2026
Movie fans, however, are far from celebrating the announcement, with many tweets denouncing the project going viral.
let me say in no uncertain terms that everybody involved in making this should have their arms and legs cut off https://t.co/SQ3mXcA3Ie
— doomer (@uncledoomer) March 25, 2026
Stephen Colbert is writing the script to a Lord of the Rings sequel. https://t.co/KTEplni27V pic.twitter.com/yWIcS2c90j
— Possum Reviews (@ReviewsPossum) March 25, 2026
I keep looking at the handle hoping it’ll turn into one of the parody accounts, but no https://t.co/IIY4x1MinN
— Geoff Thew (@G0ffThew) March 25, 2026
“I had to double check if this was a joke because that sounds like the dumbest s— I have ever heard,” read one viral response from a fan.
“This is going to make Rings of Power look like Battleship Potemkin,” a second joked.
“I knew Hollywood is really bankrupt and desperate but not ‘Stephen Colbert making LOTR: The Force Awakens’ bankrupt and desperate,” a third summarized.
Currently, an additional Lord of the Rings sequel titled The Hunt For Gollum is being directed by Gollum actor Andy Serkis and is set to hit movie theaters in 2027.