Stephen Colbert Shares How Bill Hader Shaped His ‘Lord of the Rings’ Idea
Stephen Colbert is getting ready for a big change, and he recently opened up about what he plans to do next. After years of hosting late-night TV, he is stepping into a very different role. This time, he is going behind the scenes to help write a new story set in the world of Middle-earth.
The news came shortly after Colbert appeared on the Smartless podcast, according to the episode released on April 6. He talked about how he has been thinking about his next move. Even before the official announcement about the new film, he hinted that he wanted to do something different and more meaningful to him.
He explained that part of this idea came from watching what Bill Hader did after leaving Saturday Night Live. Instead of chasing another big acting role right away, Hader joined the writing team for South Park. That choice stayed with Colbert for a long time.
While talking on the podcast, Colbert said, “I’ll tell you, the person who did the thing I most admire — I mean, not most admire, but the thing that really struck me is, you know what Hader did when he left ‘SNL’? He went and wrote for ‘South Park’ for a season.” He made it clear that this move impressed him because it was about passion, not fame.
He also shared how that thinking shaped his own plans. Instead of focusing on staying in the spotlight, he wanted to work on something he truly loves. He said, “See, can I be of service to people who I really, whose work I really admire? I thought that’s a great thing to do.” He added, “Don’t even worry about your status of your previous gig. Just go do something you love.”
It was revealed that Colbert would be co-writing a new Lord of the Rings film. The project is titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. He is working on the script with his son, Peter McGee, along with Philippa Boyens and director Peter Jackson.
The story takes place years after the original trilogy. It follows familiar characters like Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they look back on their journey. At the center of the story is Sam’s daughter, Elanor, who discovers something important connected to the past.
During the podcast, Colbert also defended the original films when Jason Bateman questioned them. He said, “‘The Lord of the Rings,’ that trilogy is generally considered, among the cognoscenti in this world, to be the perfect trilogy. It’s perfectly executed.”
At the same time, Colbert is wrapping up his long run on The Late Show. He will be leaving after thirteen years, with his final episodes airing soon. According to reports, CBS will temporarily replace his slot with Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen starting May 22.
For Colbert, this new project is not just another job. It is something personal. He has been a longtime fan of the Tolkien world, and now he gets to help shape a new story inside it.
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