Stephen Colbert Pitched His ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie to Peter Jackson Before CBS Even Canceled ‘The Late Show’ (opens in new tab)

For years, Stephen Colbert’s love of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth was one of late night television’s most endearing running themes, a genuine obsession that produced cast reunions, obscure lore challenges, and even a cameo appearance in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ back in 2013. Fans assumed it would always stay exactly that, a beloved bit...