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The announced next Lord of the Rings film after The Hunt for Gollum is The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. Philippa Boyens is one of its writers, but the reported description of its story comes from Stephen Colbert—not a direct Boyens tease. The film is set to follow Sam, Merry and Pippin on an adventure fourteen years after Frodo’s passing.
What is the next Lord of the Rings film after The Hunt for Gollum?
Warner Bros. announced The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past on March 25, 2026. The Associated Press reported that its writers are Stephen Colbert, his son Peter McGee, and Philippa Boyens, and described it as the film following The Hunt for Gollum. The AP announcement report is the source for the project’s reported premise and writing team.
What is Shadow of the Past about?
According to AP, the story follows Sam, Merry and Pippin on an adventure fourteen years after Frodo’s passing. That is a premise, not a full plot synopsis: the report does not establish the film’s other characters, specific events, or how closely it will follow Tolkien’s text.
Colbert’s literary starting point
Colbert said the idea grew from six early chapters of The Fellowship of the Ring that were not developed into the first film adaptation. AP quoted him telling Peter Jackson: “But the thing I found myself reading over and over again were the six chapters early on in (‘The Fellowship of the Ring’) that y’all never developed into the first movie back in the day.” This identifies an inspiration for the story; it does not establish that the new film adapts the whole book or those chapters scene by scene.
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What did Philippa Boyens say?
Boyens is confirmed as a co-writer of Shadow of the Past, but the available reporting does not include a direct Boyens quote teasing that film. The reported comments attributed to her concern the preceding movie, The Hunt for Gollum. Variety reported Boyens calling it “quite an intense story” and placing it after Bilbo’s birthday party and before the Mines of Moria. Variety’s release-date report contains that context; it should not be mistaken for a description of Shadow of the Past.
When does The Hunt for Gollum come out?
Variety reported a theatrical release date of December 17, 2027, and reported on July 15, 2026, that production had begun. Treat December 17 as the current reported schedule, not a guarantee: studio release plans can change. Variety’s production-start report gives the later production update.
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How the two announced films fit together
The Hunt for Gollum is the earlier project in the announced slate, directed by and starring Andy Serkis. Warner Bros.’ 2024 announcement named Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou as its screenplay writers and initially targeted 2026. The later reported 2027 date supersedes that initial target. Warner Bros. Discovery’s announcement lists the original creative team and plan.
Shadow of the Past is the announced follow-up, with a different reported premise and writing team. Further plot, cast and release details are not established by the cited announcements. Readers seeking the literary context can consult The Fellowship of the Ring; Colbert’s comments point to selected early chapters as inspiration, not a confirmed full-book adaptation.
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