The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past in Scriptwriting Stage Following Cancellation Rumors, Peter Jackson Confirms

Peter Jackson has confirmed that The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past is currently in the scriptwriting phase, following rumors of cancellation sparked by the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger. Speaking at the Sitges Film Festival, Jackson, the creator of the original trilogy, addressed this project alongside another he's working on, The Hunt for Gollum.

The cancellation rumors came after Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema announced the project in March, with a script penned by Philippa Boyens, Peter McGee, and Stephen Colbert, who famously hosted The Late Show. A subsequent report suggested Skydance had paused the project, leading to fears among fans about the movie's future. However, Warner Bros. clarified to Knight Edge Media that the project was not officially canceled, and Jackson remained confident that work on Shadow of the Past was ongoing.

Despite its early stage of development, Jackson and Colbert have already outlined the movie's plot. It will follow Sam, Merry, and Pippin 14 years after the events of Frodo's journey, focusing on their return to retracing the first steps of their adventure. Sam's daughter, Elanor, has discovered a hidden secret, driving her to uncover why the War of the Ring was nearly lost before it began.

In contrast, The Hunt for Gollum, led by Andy Serkis, is nearly finished filming, with only about two weeks of shooting remaining. Jackson is also planning to direct Tintin 2 following the completion of The Hunt for Gollum. Currently, no release dates have been set for either movie, but The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to premiere on December 17, 2027.