Stephen Colbert is showing that the end of one chapter can spark an even bigger beginning of another!
When CBS announced they were pulling the plug on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” with the final episode set for May this year, it signaled the close of Colbert’s late-night era.
However, as that curtain falls, Colbert is opening a new one, being a screenwriter alongside his son, on a major fantasy film.
Stephen Colbert Lands Surprising Movie Gig as He Retires From Late-Night
The 62-year-old host is leaping into blockbuster filmmaking, co-writing a new installment in “The Lord of the Rings” franchise with his son, Peter McGee, and longtime collaborator Philippa Boyens.
Warner Bros. shared the announcement on social media, posting a video of Colbert discussing the project with director Peter Jackson.
Colbert said that he had been a big fan of J.R.R Tolkien’s books but found parts from “The Fellowship of the Ring” that never made it into the original trilogy.
“I thought, Oh wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story,” Colbert said, per the Daily Mail. “Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made?”
He added that he spoke with his son and they developed a story and summoned the courage to pitch it to the director, who ultimately embraced the idea. The film is called “Shadow of the Past,” and it follows Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Sam’s daughter Elanor as they uncover hidden secrets about the War of the Ring.
The Comedian Had Previously Teased a Career Shift
News of Colbert’s new film venture arrives months after he jokingly hinted at exploring a different path while preparing to exit late-night television.
As The Blast reported, last July, Colbert appeared on the “La Culturistas” podcast hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, where he playfully challenged them to convince him to try podcasting.
Yang and Rogers teased that if he ever made the change, he would likely surpass their show and dominate Time Magazine’s list of top podcasts. They even pitched ideas, with Yang suggesting a relatable concept centered on dates, co-hosted with Colbert’s wife, Evie McGee.
Colbert first revealed his show’s cancellation during a July 17 broadcast, with CBS later clarifying that the decision was driven purely by financial considerations and not based on ratings.
Donald Trump Mocked Stephen Colbert’s Show Cancellation
After CBS’s confirmation, Trump was first in line to react, taking to his Truth Social platform to mock Colbert.
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next,” the U.S president wrote, according to The Blast.
Trump’s remark comes after years of on-air criticism from Colbert. One of such times was when the former “Comedy Central” anchor speculated about the billionaire mogul’s appearance after noticing his hands appeared to be covered with concealer during a public outing.
Stephen Colbert’s Comeback at Trump Earned Him Backlash From MAGA Supporters
Colbert didn’t hold back in his response to Trump. During a subsequent episode, he quoted Trump’s comment before firing back.
“How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f-ck yourself!” the Grammy Winner said.
However, Colbert’s reply did not land well with social media users, as they slammed him for reportedly incurring losses for the network company.
Per The Blast, one critic commented, “What a sore loser. He had a staff of over 200 people, a budget of over $100 million, and was paid over $16 million a year. All the while the show was losing $40 million a year!”
Colbert Turns His Exit Into Comedy Material
Despite the show’s impending end, Colbert has continued to find humor in the situation. The Blast reported that at the 2025 Emmy Awards, where he took home a win, he delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech while poking fun at his television career.
He thanked CBS for allowing him to be part of the late-night tradition and expressed hope that it would continue beyond his tenure. Later, while presenting the award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, the TV personality became the butt of his own jokes.
Colbert asked if anyone was hiring and then pulled out an old headshot from his early career, quipping that it still “works,” before asking Harrison Ford to deliver it to Steven Spielberg.
