Stephen Colbert’s New Lord of the Rings Movie Is Already Deeply Dividing Fans

by

A new Lord of the Rings movie is in the works, co-written by Stephen Colbert, and it’s already causing a stir among fans. While The Hunt for Gollum isn’t due until 2027, Warner Bros. is already planning future films based on the beloved story. They recently announced a new movie that will explore six chapters from The Fellowship of the Ring not shown in Peter Jackson’s films. This new story will be set 14 years after the original trilogy and will center around Samwise Gamgee’s daughter, Elanor.

According to Deadline, the new Lord of the Rings movie is currently titled Shadow of the Past. Stephen Colbert is writing the screenplay with Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee. While Colbert’s involvement is unexpected, he’s a dedicated fan of Lord of the Rings, which should ensure a lot of enthusiasm for the film. However, the initial announcement on X (formerly Twitter) has still received some negative reactions, showing that not all fans are excited about this new direction.

I’m surprised Stephen Colbert is writing a new Lord of the Rings movie – I don’t understand the reasoning behind this decision. I have nothing against Colbert personally, but I’m questioning what experience he has that makes him qualified for this role. Is his fandom the only reason?

— Cinema Tweets (@CinemaTweets1) March 25, 2026

Some people, like those on Cinema Tweets, are wondering if Stephen Colbert has the right experience to write the script. However, many fans are more concerned about the story itself. They’re not enthusiastic about the idea of a sequel focusing on Sam’s daughter, and worry that revisiting the original trilogy from a different point of view might not be worthwhile – a concern similar to what people felt about The Hunt for Gollum.

I’m completely unhappy with this. It’s a terrible concept for a Tolkien film and it’s genuinely made things worse for me.

— joe bro (@jbromovies) March 25, 2026

It’s particularly disappointing for some fans to revisit the events of the original trilogy when Tolkien created so much other material within his world. He never wrote a continuation of The Lord of the Rings, let alone a story about Sam’s daughter, making the choice to create a completely new narrative seem strange given the wealth of existing stories. Although, Warner Bros.’ lack of rights to The Silmarillion does add a complication.

It feels like we’re heading for another situation similar to ‘The War of the Rohirrim’ – a story diverging from established lore. There are plenty of tales in the appendices of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ that could be adapted faithfully, and I’ve often suggested Balin’s ill-fated journey into Moria would be a good fit. Instead, they’ve chosen to focus on Sam’s daughter…

— High King Fëanor – Alpha Chad of Middle-earth (@LostHistory9) March 25, 2026

On Reddit, people are discussing whether adapting just six book chapters into a full-length movie is feasible. One user, PhysicsEagle, pointed out that it might be even more challenging than making The Hunt for Gollum.

Someone was curious if Stephen Colbert has ever written anything beyond his TV work. They were also surprised to hear that a full-length movie is being made from ‘Fog on the Barrow-Downs,’ especially after the low-budget ‘Hunt for Gollum’ film.

Although most reactions have been negative, not everyone is disappointed. Some fans are excited about the concept, and many still trust Stephen Colbert to deliver something good, even if the initial story doesn’t seem strong.

On Reddit, user Aldanil66 admitted they’d likely have more faith in Stephen Colbert directing a Lord of the Rings movie than almost anyone besides Peter Jackson. Another Redditor, MRT2797, agreed, saying they actually thought it was a good idea.

Whether the new Lord of the Rings film succeeds will likely depend on how well the story is told. While Stephen Colbert clearly knows and cares about the source material, it’s still uncertain if that will translate into a great movie. The mixed responses so far suggest a larger issue for Warner Bros. and the franchise, one that started with the decisions made during the Hobbit trilogy.

The Response to the New Lord of the Rings Movie Signals a Bigger Franchise Problem

The negative reaction to Stephen Colbert’s joke about The Lord of the Rings highlights a growing problem with the franchise: fans are starting to lose faith. While Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings films are considered classics, newer adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work haven’t been as well-received. Even The Hobbit movies, which all made nearly a billion dollars, weren’t without criticism.

Despite not being connected to the original Warner Bros. Lord of the Rings movies, The Rings of Power has received a lot of criticism, especially from devoted Tolkien fans. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim had a chance to win those fans back, but it also proved to be controversial. (Its 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and $20 million box office earnings show that the studio’s Lord of the Rings films aren’t always a guaranteed success.) Because these recent projects haven’t been consistently well-received, fans are starting to be hesitant about new installments. Hopefully, the upcoming film directed by Colbert will be a pleasant surprise and change this pattern, but it already faces a tough challenge.

What are your thoughts on Stephen Colbert’s take on The Lord of the Rings? Share your opinion and discuss it with others in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/7-underrated-lord-of-the-rings-trilogy-scenes-that-are-never-talked-about-enough/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-25 17:43