Late-night host Stephen Colbert has encountered backlash from fans of the Lord of the Rings series over his involvement in directing a new film. In several recent interviews, including one with The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert discussed the cancellation of The Late Show and what lies ahead for him.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “If there’s a silver lining to Colbert’s unexpected ouster, it’s that he is now closely engaged in co-writing the Lord of the Rings film series.” This project, which has been in development for six years, represents a dream come true for Colbert, who identifies as a superfan.
During an interview, when asked why fans should trust him with the project, Colbert responded, “Well, there’s really no reason to do that. All you can do as an artist is follow your heart and apply the techniques you’ve mastered to create drama rather than simply catering to fandom.” He added that he wouldn’t be tackling this alone, as co-writer Philippa Boyens is just as passionate about it. “Every moment so far has been a joy,” he shared.
Colbert initially disclosed in March that he would co-write the Lord of the Rings movie after his show wrapped up. He expressed his deep connection to the material, citing how much the story—and particularly the initial chapters—has meant to him over the years.
He mentioned that the upcoming film will focus on a specific chapter from The Lord of the Rings, namely The Mist of Barrow Downs, the first book in J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy. Tolkien’s work, though often popular in conservative circles, has also sparked discussions about its reception across the political spectrum.
Concerns among fans about new material have heightened, particularly following criticism of Amazon’s Rings of Power series, which was seen by some as a progressive interpretation of the classic literature, diverging from Peter Jackson’s cinematic versions.
