"Shadow of the Past" will wait: the launch of the new "Lord of the Rings" postponed due to Warner Bros. and Paramount merger - media

After a change in leadership, Warner Bros. seems to have decided to take a more cautious approach to the further development of "The Lord of the Rings."

According to Knight Edge Media journalist Caleb Williams, the production of the film "The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past," whose script is being written by Stephen Colbert, has been postponed indefinitely. According to his information, the new studio management wants to evaluate the results of "The Hunt for Gollum" first, before greenlighting other films based on Tolkien's works.

The situation raises additional questions due to Colbert's conflict with CBS management. The host publicly criticized the company and its actions amid the deal with Skydance, after which his talk show was canceled. Now CBS and Warner Bros. are under the control of the same media group, although there is no confirmation of a connection between this conflict and the delay of "Shadow of the Past." Moreover, after the publication, Warner Bros. contacted Williams and clarified that the film has not been canceled and is still in development.

"The Hunt for Gollum," meanwhile, is in the final stages of filming. Andy Serkis's film is scheduled to premiere on December 17, 2027.