Steven Colbert writing LOTR sequel movie???? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 03-25-2026, 08:31 PM

Yes- based on The New Shadow, and reportedly already has a production deal.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertain...riter/6481270/

Whiskey tango actual foxtrot?

Leaving aside his "qualifications". how the devil did he secure the rights (assuming he did)? Neither the Zaentz nor the Amazon licenses touch HoME material.

Needless to say, there's no movie in the single chapter Tolkien actually wrote. Expect more worthless fan-fic like Rohirrim and 3/4 of Hobbit.

Galadriel55 · 03-26-2026, 06:52 AM

Well, if it's not a prank post (and we are still a bit early for April Fools), at the very least it's frank fan fiction - the movie allegedly "follows a new adventure for Sam, Merry and Pippin 14 years after the passing of Frodo".

Inziladun · 03-26-2026, 11:46 AM

A project in the ongoing quest to squeeze Tolkien's work for cash until it screams, from the mind of a highly politically partisan, unfunny late-night host? What could possibly go wrong?

***Mithadan*** · 03-26-2026, 03:54 PM

While Colbert's plan involves "a new adventure for Sam, Merry and Pippin 14 years after the passing of Frodo," what I've seen elsewhere is that he will use a journey involving the Hobbits as a framing device to explore matters from the first six chapters of FoTR and why the War of the Ring happened. I saw an interview with him where he specifically mentions Fog on the Barrow-Downs. That said, I am not clear on exactly what the story will be.

The production involves Warner Brothers and Philippa Boyens, indicating a New Line link. It's been a while since I paid attention to the licensing of Tolkien's work, but this one seems to derive from Tolkien's conveyance of rights to United Artists, then to Saul Zaentz which then went to Tolkien Enterprises and subsequently to New Line. The License to New Line was either limited or non-exclusive, and similar rights were then conveyed to Embracer. The rights conveyed were only to The Hobbit and the main text of LoTR, but not the appendices or any of his other unpublished writings. Amazon acquired the rights to the appendices from the Tolkien Estate, thus The Rings of Power.

Colbert is, by reputation, a real Middle Earth fan. But, then again, so was Bezos, by reputation. All said, I am willing to keep an open mind. Then again, I'm a real fan and I've even written fan fiction. Wait a minute... (consults address book for movie industry contacts).

William Cloud Hicklin · 03-29-2026, 11:41 AM

Sadly, the original contract with UA, which went to Zaentz and then Embracer, and the license Warner/New Line are using, permits

"to freely adapt, change, transpose, revise, rearrange, add to and subtract from the work or any part thereof. to make interpolations in and substitutions for any part or parts thereof, to make sequels to and new versions or adaptations of the work or any part thereof, to use any part or parts of the work or of the theme thereof or any incidents, characters, character names, scenes, sequences or characterizations therein contained...."

In other words, if they want to make "Elanor Gamgee, Vampire Slayer" and set it in Sunnyvale, California, they can.

Bêthberry · 03-31-2026, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

In other words, if they want to make "Elanor Gamgee, Vampire Slayer" and set it in Sunnyvale, California, they can.

But, but, but ... Thuringwethil and Luthien. https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Thuringwethil

Something can survive the First Age.

Huinesoron · 04-02-2026, 04:08 AM

The (purported - I'm still not convinced this is serious) source is Three is Company through to Fog on the Barrow Downs, which is indeed basically skipped over by the Jackson movies - there's one Ringwraith encounter which is broadly from the books, but the rest is turned into the cornfield encounter and a mad dash to the ferry. So the concept is the three hobbits retracing a journey that, um... definitely didn't happen in the films, but what if we pretend it did, but off screen?

The main reason I might be interested in watching this is if Billy, Dom, and Sean reprise their roles. Billy and Dom recently did an Amazon series together (travelling the world sampling the food), and are clearly still funny, close, and willing to be associated with LotR-ish stuff (there were... many hobbit jokes). I would also enjoy seeing Elanor and Rosie.

I also think it's absolutely freakin hilarious that this would mean a film where the grand denouement, the big event that the whole film is building towards... is Tom-a-Dong-a-Dillo Bombadil. I want them to overcommit to this. I want a whole advertising campaign about "At last... the character you've been waiting for since 2001". I want moody posters with the silhouette of his hat and taglines like "Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow" in jagged fonts. I want the first trailer to have a minor-key remix of one of his songs as the soundtrack, and the last trailer to just be a three minute scene of him dancing merrily up the Withywindle, and the scene isn't even in the film.

hS

Formendacil · 04-03-2026, 05:41 AM

Good news, I guess--if they have Elijah Wood in flashbacks, he can actually be about 50 years old this time.

Bad news--Frodo isn't supposed to look fifty years old.

Morthoron · 04-04-2026, 11:30 AM

Checks off one more ill-fated Tolkienesque fan-fic I will not be watching.

03-25-2026, 08:31 PM	#1
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,332	Steven Colbert writing LOTR sequel movie???? Yes- based on The New Shadow, and reportedly already has a production deal. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertain...riter/6481270/ Whiskey tango actual foxtrot? Leaving aside his "qualifications". how the devil did he secure the rights (assuming he did)? Neither the Zaentz nor the Amazon licenses touch HoME material. Needless to say, there's no movie in the single chapter Tolkien actually wrote. Expect more worthless fan-fic like Rohirrim and 3/4 of Hobbit. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

03-26-2026, 06:52 AM	#2
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,554	Well, if it's not a prank post (and we are still a bit early for April Fools), at the very least it's frank fan fiction - the movie allegedly "follows a new adventure for Sam, Merry and Pippin 14 years after the passing of Frodo". __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

03-26-2026, 11:46 AM	#3
Inziladun Gruesome Spectre Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Heaven's doorstep Posts: 8,042	A project in the ongoing quest to squeeze Tolkien's work for cash until it screams, from the mind of a highly politically partisan, unfunny late-night host? What could possibly go wrong? __________________ Music alone proves the existence of God.

03-26-2026, 03:54 PM	#4
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,400	While Colbert's plan involves "a new adventure for Sam, Merry and Pippin 14 years after the passing of Frodo," what I've seen elsewhere is that he will use a journey involving the Hobbits as a framing device to explore matters from the first six chapters of FoTR and why the War of the Ring happened. I saw an interview with him where he specifically mentions Fog on the Barrow-Downs. That said, I am not clear on exactly what the story will be. The production involves Warner Brothers and Philippa Boyens, indicating a New Line link. It's been a while since I paid attention to the licensing of Tolkien's work, but this one seems to derive from Tolkien's conveyance of rights to United Artists, then to Saul Zaentz which then went to Tolkien Enterprises and subsequently to New Line. The License to New Line was either limited or non-exclusive, and similar rights were then conveyed to Embracer. The rights conveyed were only to The Hobbit and the main text of LoTR, but not the appendices or any of his other unpublished writings. Amazon acquired the rights to the appendices from the Tolkien Estate, thus The Rings of Power. Colbert is, by reputation, a real Middle Earth fan. But, then again, so was Bezos, by reputation. All said, I am willing to keep an open mind. Then again, I'm a real fan and I've even written fan fiction. Wait a minute... (consults address book for movie industry contacts). __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.

03-29-2026, 11:41 AM	#5
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,332	Sadly, the original contract with UA, which went to Zaentz and then Embracer, and the license Warner/New Line are using, permits "to freely adapt, change, transpose, revise, rearrange, add to and subtract from the work or any part thereof. to make interpolations in and substitutions for any part or parts thereof, to make sequels to and new versions or adaptations of the work or any part thereof, to use any part or parts of the work or of the theme thereof or any incidents, characters, character names, scenes, sequences or characterizations therein contained...." In other words, if they want to make "Elanor Gamgee, Vampire Slayer" and set it in Sunnyvale, California, they can. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

04-02-2026, 04:08 AM	#7
Huinesoron Overshadowed Eagle Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: The north-west of the Old World, east of the Sea Posts: 3,991	The (purported - I'm still not convinced this is serious) source is Three is Company through to Fog on the Barrow Downs, which is indeed basically skipped over by the Jackson movies - there's one Ringwraith encounter which is broadly from the books, but the rest is turned into the cornfield encounter and a mad dash to the ferry. So the concept is the three hobbits retracing a journey that, um... definitely didn't happen in the films, but what if we pretend it did, but off screen? The main reason I might be interested in watching this is if Billy, Dom, and Sean reprise their roles. Billy and Dom recently did an Amazon series together (travelling the world sampling the food), and are clearly still funny, close, and willing to be associated with LotR-ish stuff (there were... many hobbit jokes). I would also enjoy seeing Elanor and Rosie. I also think it's absolutely freakin hilarious that this would mean a film where the grand denouement, the big event that the whole film is building towards... is Tom-a-Dong-a-Dillo Bombadil. I want them to overcommit to this. I want a whole advertising campaign about "At last... the character you've been waiting for since 2001". I want moody posters with the silhouette of his hat and taglines like "Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow" in jagged fonts. I want the first trailer to have a minor-key remix of one of his songs as the soundtrack, and the last trailer to just be a three minute scene of him dancing merrily up the Withywindle, and the scene isn't even in the film. hS __________________ Have you burned the ships that could bear you back again? ~Finrod: The Rock Opera

04-03-2026, 05:41 AM	#8
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,330	Good news, I guess--if they have Elijah Wood in flashbacks, he can actually be about 50 years old this time. Bad news--Frodo isn't supposed to look fifty years old. __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.

04-04-2026, 11:30 AM	#9
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,518	Checks off one more ill-fated Tolkienesque fan-fic I will not be watching. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.