Peter Jackson revealed that Stephen Colbert approached him with an idea for a new The Lord of the Rings film before Colbert’s exit from late-night television, and the two, along with longtime collaborator Philippa Boyens, have already spent about a year developing the project.

Colbert even traveled to New Zealand to work closely with the creative team, turning what could have been a casual pitch into a serious screenwriting collaboration. Jackson said he was impressed by Colbert’s deep knowledge of Tolkien’s world and embraced the pitch enough to bring him into a writers’ room style process with Boyens and Colbert’s son.

The treatment has been evolving for nearly a year, with a focus on expanding Middle-earth’s timeline rather than revisiting familiar story beats. The project is positioned as a follow-up to The Hunt for Gollum, with returning characters dealing with the aftermath of the War of the Ring while a new generation uncovers hidden truths.

For Colbert, the shift away from nightly television opened the door to a more immersive creative process. Jackson framed the collaboration as both productive and unexpectedly personal, with Colbert fully committing to the material rather than treating it as a novelty. With Jackson producing and Boyens maintaining continuity, the film aims to balance a fresh voice with the franchise’s established tone.

That creative momentum is not limited to Middle-earth, as Jackson is also revisiting another beloved adventure universe.

Peter Jackson’s Return to Tintin

Peter Jackson has also confirmed he is developing a new take on Tintin, reuniting with collaborator Fran Walsh to bring the iconic reporter back to the big screen. The project marks Tintin’s first major cinematic return since The Adventures of Tintin in 2011, which was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Jackson, who had long been expected to direct a follow-up, now appears ready to step back into the director’s chair after a lengthy gap. The original story followed Tintin and Snowy as they unraveled a mystery tied to the Unicorn ship, alongside Captain Haddock and against adversaries like Ivan Sakharine.

Jackson’s new version is expected to preserve that sense of global adventure while expanding emotional depth and scale for modern audiences. Working with Walsh, he aims to deliver a character-driven update that honors the spirit of Hergé’s work while introducing it to a new generation.

What do you think about Stephen Colbert stepping into Middle-earth and Peter Jackson’s Tintin revival plans? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Pratham Gurung

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra