Stephen Colbert sheds fear of telling Steven Spielberg about new Lord of the Rings movie
After Steven Spielberg put Colbert on the spot, the late-night host now sounds ready to spill Tolkien secrets — and you’ll want to hear what he shares.
Over lunch after the Obama Library opening, Steven Spielberg tried to pry story details out of Stephen Colbert about the new The Lord of the Rings movie he’s co-writing. Colbert told the tale on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, admitting he stonewalled the legendary director rather than risk spilling anything under those airtight NDAs.
“And I was terrified! I was afraid I would get in trouble, so I didn’t tell him anything,” Colbert said.
Spielberg even reminded him he knows Peter Jackson , which didn’t move the needle. Colbert later relayed the exchange to longtime Rings writer-producer Philippa Boyens, who cracked that maybe — just maybe — Spielberg might’ve had a useful idea if he’d heard more.
Inside Shadow of the Past
The new Middle-earth film, tentatively titled Shadow of the Past, is assembling some very familiar talent. Colbert is writing the screenplay with his son Peter and Boyens, with Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Boyens producing for Warner Bros.
- Stephen Colbert — co-writer
- Peter (Colbert’s son) — co-writer
- Philippa Boyens — co-writer and producer
- Peter Jackson — producer
- Fran Walsh — producer
- Studio — Warner Bros.
- Title — Shadow of the Past (tentative)
Colbert, a well-known Tolkien superfan, is keeping any plot specifics locked up for now.
The E.T. sequel he pitched anyway
If Colbert kept Middle-earth secrets from Spielberg, he more than made up for it with an over-the-top E.T. sequel pitch during The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Spielberg laughed as Colbert rapid-fired ridiculous ideas, including:
- E.T. 2 Electric Boogaloo
- E.T. Again Too Extra Too Terrestrial
- E.T. battling the Predator with CGI and a lightsaber
- E.T. in a tight skin suit
- Insisting on Reese’s Pieces over M&M’s
Spielberg enjoyed the bit but said he’s never considered making an E.T. 2, explaining the original stands on its own — and a sequel could risk dinging the affection audiences have for it.
Meanwhile, Colbert is writing Shadow of the Past with Boyens and his son, with Jackson, Walsh and Boyens producing at Warner Bros.