New Lord of the Rings movie in the works centered around Tom Bombadil

trappedslider · 2026-03-25T14:40:31+0000

During an update on the Lord of the Rings: Hunt For Gollum, movie, Peter Jackson announced that he's working with Stephen Colbert and Colbert's son on a movie about Tom Bombadil. It's being based on just six chapters from Fellowship of the Ring. I recall the discourse about Tom being left out of the movie. The working title is currently The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past
The announcement video is linked below WB's Twitter page, WB pictures does not have an active blue sky feed.

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Peter Jackson Is Making A New Lord Of The Rings Movie, It's About Tom Bombadil

New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson is working on a new Lord of the Rings movie, and to make it, he’s … Continue reading "Peter Jackson Is Making A New Lord Of The Rings Movie, It’s About Tom Bombadil"

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Reynard · 2026-03-25T14:44:02+0000

You are a week early (I hope).

MarkB · 2026-03-25T14:55:52+0000

If they're making a Tom Bombadil movie, it'd better be a musical.

Deset Gled · 2026-03-25T16:08:16+0000

Is it a hot take to say pitching a LotR movie about Tom Bombadil feels the same as pitching a Narnia movie about Santa Claus?

Also, I really want to see how the Gollum movie plays out before I get geared up for any other spin offs. That could be a game changer in either direction.

Twiggly the Gnome · 2026-03-25T16:45:06+0000

Deset Gled said:
Is it a hot take to say pitching a LotR movie about Tom Bombadil feels the same as pitching a Narnia movie about Santa Claus?

Nope, I had the same thought.

My worry is that they'll try to make Tom somehow important to the plot of LotR. Tom wasn't effected by the one ring, because he literally didn't care.

Reynard · 2026-03-25T16:52:15+0000

Twiggly the Gnome said:
Nope, I had the same thought.

My worry is that they'll try to make Tom somehow important to the plot of LotR. Tom wasn't effected by the one ring, because he literally didn't care.

Other reports suggest this film is set well after the Return of the King and folds in elements of Return of the Shadow. So Tom will appear in a sequel to LotR, if the reports hold.

Whizbang Dustyboots · 2026-03-25T17:02:48+0000

Reynard said:
Other reports suggest this film is set well after the Return of the King and folds in elements of Return of the Shadow. So Tom will appear in a sequel to LotR, if the reports hold.

My understanding that the post-LotR stuff, with Sam's daughter, is a framing device, but the meat of the story will be the hobbits encountering the wraiths, etc., while on their first trip out of the Shire during Fellowship.

And I guess the big thing that separates me from mega-nerds like Colbert is that I feel like leaving the Scouring of the Shire out of Return of the King (which already had 45 false endings, so I get it), is a much bigger deal thematically than "what about that super-powered guy who likes to sing and resolutely chose to stay out of the War of the Ring?"

One is about the hobbits, as a nation, growing up and becoming one among equals in Middle Earth and no longer able to ignore everyone else via their isolation, and the other is JRRT throwing something in for his kids.

Reynard · 2026-03-25T17:05:00+0000

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
My understanding that the post-LotR stuff, with Sam's daughter, is a framing device, but the meat of the story will be the hobbits encountering the wraiths, etc., while on their first trip out of the Shire during Fellowship.

That seems extra silly considering those actors are 25 odd years older than when those movies were filmed. Just do it as a sequel.

I will never understand the need to constantly return to the same well over and over. but we have talked about this with regards to D&D settings, so...

Clint_L · 2026-03-25T17:11:32+0000

I'm amazed and fascinated. I think Tom Bombadil serves a useful fucntion in LotR as a reminder that not everything in Middle Earth is about the war against Sauron. It kind of makes the narrative feel more like a sandbox, if that RPG analogy make sense.

That said...I find the character kind of goofy and I can't say that I have ever thought much more about his story. I certainly have never wished for an antire film centered on him. Yet...now I at least am curious to see what these creative minds will do with it.