New film in the franchise confirmed
Peter Jackson has confirmed that work on The Lord of the Rings franchise is continuing beyond The Hunt for Gollum, which is currently being filmed in New Zealand and is expected to wrap production within two weeks. The film is scheduled to release in December 2027.Details on upcoming project revealed
At the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, where he received an honorary award, Jackson shared details about a future project titled The Shadow of the Past, which is currently in the scriptwriting stage. The project was previously announced on March 25 during Tolkien Reading Day.Scriptwriting team and story focus
The script for The Lord of the Rings: The Shadow of the Past is being written by Stephen Colbert, an American television host and Tolkien enthusiast, along with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens, who has previously worked as a screenwriter for Jackson's trilogies. The film will adapt chapters from The Fellowship of the Ring that were not included in the original films.Time and characters in the new film
The film is expected to take place fourteen years after the death of Frodo, with Sam, Merry, and Pippin retracing the steps of their first adventure. This new story will explore events that occurred after the original trilogy's events.Studio merger rumors addressed
Earlier in October, there were rumors that the film might be delayed due to the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros., with the new studio reportedly waiting for the results of The Hunt for Gollum. However, the company has since clarified that no projects have been canceled and that development is continuing.Reassurance for fans
Jackson's recent comments are expected to reassure fans about the future of the Lord of the Rings franchise, confirming that new projects are moving forward as planned.
