The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past — Jackson and Colbert Plot a Post-Frodo Sequel
Rumors are circulating about a fresh entry in the Lord of the Rings universe that would pick up years after Frodo’s death. Reports suggest Peter Jackson is developing a new LOTR film that would serve as a direct sequel, shifting the focus to the surviving hobbits as time moves forward.
Warner Bros. has been pushing to expand the franchise, including a separate prequel project titled The Hunt for Gollum. That film is reportedly directed by Andy Serkis and is slated to hit theaters in 2027, signaling a broader commitment to expanding Middle-earth beyond the familiar fellowship storyline.
Adding to the chatter, a second LOTR movie is said to be in development with a surprising collaboration: Peter Jackson teaming up with Stephen Colbert, the late-night host and well-known LOTR enthusiast who even appeared briefly as a villager in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
The new film, titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past, would follow the three hobbits—Sam, Merry, and Pippin—as they reminisce and embark on a fresh adventure. The official synopsis hints at a fourteen-year gap since Frodo’s passing, with Sam’s daughter Elanor uncovering a long-buried secret that could explain why the War of the Ring nearly faltered at its outset.
In a video about the project, Colbert described the concept as drawing from portions of Tolkien’s early writings. He framed it as a standalone story that remains faithful to both the source material and the cinematic adaptation, weaving together chapters from the book with elements already seen on screen.
It’s not yet clear whether Ian Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd will return to their iconic roles as Sam, Merry, and Pippin. The significant time jump could influence casting, but until more details emerge, fans will have to wait to see how the returning hobbits and other characters will be brought into this new chapter.
If you’re craving more to anticipate, you can also look at lists of the most-anticipated movies of 2026 to see what else the year might hold for fantasy cinema.