From Polygon · Francesco Cacciatore · · 1m 10s
Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings Project Still in Development
Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings movie still in development after Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
In brief
Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings movie still in development after Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past remains in development despite Paramount-Warner Bros. merger rumors. Originally reported by Polygon.
Rumors of pause
On Oct. 4, rumors emerged that Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings project was paused due to Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
Project announced
In March 2026, Peter Jackson announced a Lord of the Rings movie project with Stephen Colbert and screenwriter Peter McGee.
Project greenlit
Philippa Boyens joined the project, tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past, which got green light from New Line and Warner Bros.
Merger rumors
The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger sparked rumors about Skydance projects, but Shadows of the Past remains unaffected.
Status update
Warner Bros. confirmed to Knight Edge Media that the project is not canceled and remains in development.
Next movie
The Hunt for Gollum will hit theaters on Dec. 17, 2027, directed by Andy Serkis.
The one thing
Stephen Colbert's Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past remains in development despite Paramount-Warner Bros. merger rumors.
