Warner Bros. is heading back to Middle-earth once again, and this time, the journey comes with a twist nobody saw coming.

A brand-new Lord of the Rings movie has just been announced, titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, and lo and behold, Stephen Colbert is one of the writers.

The film will take place 14 years after Frodo’s departure, following Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they retrace the early steps of their legendary adventure. Meanwhile, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, uncovers a buried secret that could change everything we thought we knew about the War of the Ring.

Even more interesting? The story pulls from the often-overlooked “Barrow-downs” section of The Fellowship of the Ring: a piece longtime fans have always wanted to see adapted.

And while Colbert might seem like an unexpected choice, hardcore Tolkien fans know the truth: the man is deep into Middle-earth lore. This isn’t a random celebrity cameo, this is a full-on passion project!

The film is being developed alongside Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, and will arrive after The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, which is currently set for December 17, 2027.

Middle-earth isn’t done with us yet… and honestly, we’re not done with it either.