PR in the Philippines

(SeaPRwire) –   Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is widely considered the definitive screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga, spanning the three substantial books across 12 hours of screen time. However, the films did not encompass every element of the story. A subsequent trilogy focusing on the Hobbit prequel was produced, and now the universe is expanding further with The Hunt for Gollum, a spinoff film to be directed by Andy Serkis, who famously portrayed Gollum.

The expansion of the Ringsverse does not end with this project. Even as The Hunt for Gollum is currently in production, another film is already being hinted at, originating from a dedicated Tolkien enthusiast.

In a social media update regarding The Hunt for Gollum, Peter Jackson also provided the first details about the next upcoming project: a film penned by Stephen Colbert, host of CBS’s Late Show and a notable Tolkien aficionado. Tentatively titled Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, this movie will adapt the initial chapters of Frodo’s journey, including the part where the beloved character Tom Bombadil (who was omitted from the films) rescues the Hobbits from Barrow-wights.

Interestingly, this will not be a straightforward prequel narrative. Instead, the story is set after Frodo’s passing, with his old companions Sam, Merry, and Pippin embarking on a journey to retrace their original adventure. The film will also introduce a new generation, following Sam’s daughter, Elanor.

Colbert’s professional commitments have become more flexible following the unexpected cancellation of his late-night program, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, by Paramount. His final broadcast is slated for May, after which he will commence work on this film. He will be co-writing with his son, Peter McGee, and franchise veteran Philippa Boyens, who has been involved in the writing of every Lord of the Rings movie to date.

Colbert’s profound admiration for The Lord of the Rings is well-documented. He has consistently expressed his passion for the franchise, participating in everything from hosting convention panels to interviewing its cast members. In a memorable instance, he engaged in and largely triumphed in a highly challenging trivia game with Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, the actors who played Pippin and Merry, respectively.

While Colbert may have limited formal screenwriting credits, he has been a writer throughout his career, contributing to shows like The Dana Carvey Show, Saturday Night Live, and The Daily Show, and co-creating the series Strangers With Candy with Amy Sedaris. He is also no stranger to crafting narratives set in Middle-Earth. In 2019, during a visit to New Zealand, Colbert filmed a sketch for The Late Show where he portrayed “Darrylgorn,” the “ruggedly handsome” twin brother of Aragorn, revealing the true identity of his cameo character, “Laketown Spy,” from The Desolation of Smaug.

While the aforementioned sketch included a humorous reference to Ents and a discussion on the logistics of the Palantir, if this is indicative of what Colbert can achieve in a 10-minute short, then he and his experienced co-writers are well-equipped to deliver a feature-length script. It is even possible that we might see the return of the Laketown Spy.