‘A full-circle moment’: why Stephen Colbert is an enticing fit for Lord of the Rings

Stephen Colbert, the acclaimed host of *The Late Show* and a beloved comic actor, is embarking on an unexpected literary venture: co-writing the screenplay for an upcoming *Lord of the Rings* film. This adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy world will be produced by none other than Peter Jackson, the visionary director behind the original *Lord of the Rings* trilogy and *The Hobbit* films. While comedians often write humorous essays or screenplays for their own vehicles, Colbert's leap into the realm of high fantasy marks a distinctive and intriguing shift.

For many who know Colbert primarily from his sharp political satire on *The Daily Show* or his current role as a talk show host, his involvement with Tolkien's serious fantasy saga might appear incongruous, given the absence of satirical elements in Middle-earth. Yet, this collaboration makes profound sense for those familiar with Colbert's long-standing, deep affection for Tolkien's works – a passion that runs far deeper than mere casual interest.

Born in Washington D.C., the youngest of eleven children in a Catholic family that moved between Maryland and South Carolina, Colbert's early life, paradoxically, set the stage for his future as a satirist. However, a profound personal tragedy struck in 1974 when, at just ten years old, Colbert lost his father and two brothers in a plane crash. In the wake of this devastating event, he retreated, finding solace and escape in the pages of books, particularly fantasy novels by authors like Tolkien, and immersive role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, which he dedicatedly played for four years.

This period of immersion, though seemingly a retreat, inadvertently provided him with invaluable early training in acting and improvisation. As he reflected in a 2006 interview with the AV Club, "For somebody who eventually became an actor, it was interesting to have done that for so many years, because acting is role-playing." He elaborated on the parallels, noting, "You assume a character, and you have to stay in them over years, and you create histories, and you apply your powers. It’s good improvisation with agreed rules before you go in." This formative experience, rooted in fantasy, proved to be a crucial, albeit unrecognized, foundation for his illustrious career, truly embodying a full-circle moment as his childhood refuge now shapes his professional endeavor.