“It’s basically the chapter ‘Three Is Company’ through ‘Fog on the Barrow-Downs,” Colbert said in a video posted to X. “And I thought, ‘Oh, wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story. 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?’”

Colbert said he began talking about this idea with his son, and they “worked out” what would work for this film. Colbert said he pitched the idea to Jackson, and the late-night host and his son are co-writing the movie.

Colbert joked that he didn’t think he would “have the time” to work on this project amid hosting his show, but “it turns out” he will be free beginning this summer. Colbert’s joke was on his show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which will be canceled this May.

Multiple users on X have vented their frustrations with Colbert helming a new Lord of the Rings film.

“This will be significantly worse than Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. No one asked for a transgender orc,” podcaster Katie Miller said on X.

“This might in fact be the worst idea anyone has ever had in history,” DailyWire host Matt Walsh said on X.

“A little early for April Fools isn’t it?” YouTube film critic the Critical Drinker said on X.

“Whoever came up with the idea to have a sequel to the Lord of the Rings, and to get Stephen Colbert to co-write it, should be launched into the sun,” political analyst Josh Ferme said on X.

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Colbert will air his final episode on May 21. He joked last year that his “beloved” parent company, Paramount Skydance, could keep his show on the air as it sought to outbid Netflix for ownership of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Washington Examiner columnist Guy Benson predicted on March 15 that Colbert will start a “resistance” podcast once his show wraps up. He said the late-night host will portray himself as being “silenced” by President Donald Trump.