A Late-Night Legend & A Long-Awaited Journey

A Late-Night Legend & A Long-Awaited Journey

By Marge Hynes, Writer

When I hear there’s a new The Lord of the Rings movie in the works, I get just a wee bit protective (never mind my long-standing argument that there are no good sequels . . . or at least, very few). Middle-earth is special for so many of us, especially those who grew up tucked away in the pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “sub-creation.”

If you grew up watching Colbert like my family and I did, where he’d randomly break into Elvish or do entire skits revolving around his love for Tolkien (or if you recall him making a cameo in The Desolation of Smaug in 2013), you know we are in good hands.

Who is the Man Behind the Pen?

We know Stephen as the quick-witted Emmy winner, but behind the desk is a man whose life has been deeply shaped by his Catholic faith and his love for Tolkien.

Colbert’s path hasn’t been without its own shadows. Stephen experienced profound loss at a young age, losing his father and two brothers in a plane crash when he was only ten. He has often spoken about how Tolkien’s stories provided a framework for his grief: a way to understand that even in a world of deep sorrow, there is a “joy beyond the walls of the world.”¹

Now, he’s developing this latest film alongside his son, screenwriter Peter McGee, and the legendary Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens. 

Retracing the “Lost” Steps

What makes this project so exciting is that it isn’t just another massive war epic. Instead, it’s going back to the beginning.

Set fourteen years after Frodo departs for the Grey Havens, the story follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they retrace their very first steps. Colbert is focusing on the “lost chapters” that were left out of the original trilogy: the mystical, eerie, and deeply spiritual moments where our favorite little Hobbit friends first find their courage.

Take the Barrow-downs, for instance. It is a literal “valley of the shadow of death” where a Barrow-wight, an ancient and malevolent spirit, traps the Hobbits. 

The scene is a battle of two opposing incantations, found in Chapter 8 of The Fellowship of the Ring, titled “Fog on the Barrow-downs.”

As the Hobbits lie in a trance, the Barrow-wight chants a spell to bind them to the grave forever:

Cold be hand and heart and bone,
and cold be sleep under stone:
never more to wake on stony bed,
until the Sun fails and the Moon is dead.

Frodo remembers the rhyme taught to him by Tom Bombadil. He sings out as a desperate call for help, and he is answered by the arrival of the mysterious Tom:

Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo!
By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow,
By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us!
Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!

A reminder of the reality of spiritual warfare, but also followed by the ultimate triumph of light. In the Barrow-downs, the Hobbits learn that they aren’t saved by their own strength alone.

As we journey through these final days of Lent and look toward the light of Easter, the theme of “retracing our steps” hits home. Lent is our time to look at the shadows of our own lives so we can fully step into the joy of the Resurrection. Colbert’s project is a perfect reminder that our stories, even the parts we think are “lost” or “skipped,” are held in the hands of a Grand Author.

Whether you’re wandering through the Shire or just trying to make it through a busy week, remember: the shadow is only there because there is a Light shining behind it.

Keep an Eye on A Resounding Yes!

We are so thrilled to keep exploring the worlds of Lewis and Tolkien with you. This is a season of big ideas and even bigger hope.

Listen in: Make sure you’re subscribed to A Resounding Yes! on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Fio. We have some incredible episodes coming your way that dive into the enduring legacy of the Inklings in our books, our films, and our faith.

Want to bring a touch of the “divine spark” to your own brand? Click here to see what we’re building at Paloma and Fig.

1. J. R. R. Tolkien, “On Fairy-Stories,” 33. ↩︎

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With over eight years of experience and a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing, Marge Hynes is a dynamic writer whose portfolio spans SEO-driven copywriting, journalism, and marketing—a versatile skill set that allows her to craft compelling content for Paloma & Fig’s projects.

Marge’s Catholic faith serves as the cornerstone of her work. She approaches storytelling with thoughtfulness and a deep appreciation for the Lord’s own creative power. Her love of the written word shines through in every project, helping clients articulate their message with clarity, heart, and purpose.

When she’s not writing, Marge can be found leading praise and worship, diving into theological books, or exploring the great outdoors with her loyal dog, Augustine (Auggie for short).