# Stephen Colbert's Tolkien Movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** middle-earth, movies\ **Created:** [March 25, 2026, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748 "2026-03-25T11:16:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/1 "2026-03-25T11:16:52Z")
It covers some of the Fellowship - specifically chapters “Three is Company” through “Fog on the Barrow Downs” Guess we will finally see Tom Bombadil, Old Man Willow, and Goldberry – which was skipped even in the Radio Drama. Think this also means Crickhollow. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HMHh4L2626A/maxresdefault.jpg "We bring you a special announcement") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMHh4L2626A) Brian Happy Tolkien Reading Day (the ring was destroyed on March 25) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/2 "2026-03-25T13:40:35Z")
Seems like good news. I’ve no idea if Colbert can maintain any meaningful control in this process, but adding his Tolkien fanaticism to the mix might cut down on the dwarf tossing jokes. The idea of expanding LOTR sections that were left out of Jackson’s trilogy is much more appealing to me than watching new stories based on Tolkien’s characters and settings. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/3 "2026-03-25T13:50:19Z")
It took me an embarrassingly long time in that video to figure out why the scruffy dude was so excited about making another talking movie. Was he used to making silent movies or something? Oh. OHHHHH This is the most excited I’ve been about any film adaptation since the first Lord of the Rings series. There’s a very good chance that Colbert will bring something new and beautiful to the story. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/4 "2026-03-25T14:29:45Z")
I could give a toss about LOTR but I am very very excited for Colbert and for LOTR fans, because I know he will produce something special! Interesting he says in the video that he’s been thinking about this for a few years. It’s not merely something he popped up with when he heard the news he’d been canceled. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/5 "2026-03-25T17:09:13Z")
Cautious optimism. I take it this will be one movie, not terribly long? I think the framing story will be fairly critical, but if he is taking advice from Philippa Boyens that’s a good sign. On the other hand, I’m not very sanguine about any characterization of Tom Bombadil that will take a fairly ephemeral being and turn it into something only 3-dimensional. Will Tom remain an enigma wrapped in a mystery? Will they be able to resist trying to answer all the questions about him that inevitably arise? I hope so. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/6 "2026-03-25T17:42:13Z")
No, Stephen. Bad Stephen. Funny Stephen good. LotR Stephen bad. Do better. Be best. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/7 "2026-03-25T17:53:34Z")
Now, I liked the trip through the Old Forest and getting trapped in the barrow. But if cutting Tom and Goldberry out of the story means losing those non-vital scenes, then it’s an overall win. And losing the Crickhollow bathing scene is just a win-win in any scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/8 "2026-03-25T17:58:47Z")
I’m pessimistic, seems too convoluted, and unneeded. A better idea, IMHO, would be to made a movie about the Scouring of the Shire, or better yet stop with the unnecessary LOTR movies and make something from the Appendixes or The Silmarillion. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/9 "2026-03-25T18:05:54Z")
Yes, I’m a bit dubious. I’d rather see a Beren and Luthien tragic romance, meself. Here’s more: [Stephen Colbert’s Surprising Career Change Revealed After ‘Late Show’ Cancellation - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/stephen-colbert-surprising-career-change-132004821.html) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/10 "2026-03-25T18:07:53Z")
A movie about [the Flight of the Noldor](https://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Of_the_Flight_of_the_Noldor) could have potential… ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/11 "2026-03-26T13:44:53Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > On the other hand, I’m not very sanguine about any characterization of Tom Bombadil that will take a fairly ephemeral being and… That word, I don’t think it means what you think it means. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/12 "2026-03-26T13:54:50Z")
Yeah _Iarwain Ben-adar_, is not precisely _ephemeral_ (Iarwain = The oldest) (Ben-adar = Fatherless) ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/13 "2026-03-26T14:45:05Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > That word, I don’t think it means what you think it means. > [@Frodo](#): > > Yeah _Iarwain Ben-adar_, is not precisely _ephemeral_ You’re both right of course. The word I was searching for was, well I can’t think of a single word, something like unclearly-defined and more than we could imagine. Maybe ambiguous would do for a single word. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/14 "2026-03-26T14:48:44Z")
Enigmatic? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/15 "2026-03-26T14:52:03Z")
I keep thinking there’s a word like that but I can’t seem to find it. _Ethereal_ may be? ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/16 "2026-03-26T14:53:53Z")
I would like this movie and any that you’ve suggested. I have read the apendixes several times. Shamefully, I’ve never made it through the entire Sil … someday. However, any they make need to not be like The Hobbit movies. Those were entertaining, but not particularly good. I gotta’ say I was not that big a fan of The Hobbit anyway. The trilogy was much better I every way imho. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/17 "2026-03-26T14:55:34Z")
If you are getting stuck in the first chapters just plow through they are short and afterwards the pace picks up and the events become far more relatable. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/18 "2026-03-26T15:01:53Z")
I made it half way through some decades ago. Unfortunately we were in the middle of a financial disaster, and I had to stop reading altogether to deal with all of that. I just have never gotten back to it. I’d prolly have to read it on my chromebook now because my dry eye makes reading typical font in a book (I have a first edition of The Sil … I know no big deal but _I’m_ impressed with myself 😉 ) difficult. I plan to try again one day. Hopefully before I’m demented or dead. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/19 "2026-03-26T15:08:36Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > A better idea, IMHO, would be to made a movie about the Scouring of the Shire, or better yet stop with the unnecessary LOTR movies and make something from the Appendixes or The Silmarillion. The Tolkien estate has the rights for the Silmarillion and won’t sell them. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748/20 "2026-03-26T15:10:20Z")
Right you are, and seeing the slop that was made lately (ROP I’m looking at you) I can’t blame them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748.md?page=2)