Stephen Colbert has traded late-night monologues for Middle-earth maps, joining forces with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens to co-write a new The Lord of the Rings movie, tentatively titled Shadow of the Past. The Tolkien superfan is working on the screenplay for the tentatively titled Shadow of the Past, with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Boyens producing the Warner Bros. adventure.

Fans are not the only ones curious about this mysterious Middle-earth chapter. Steven Spielberg also wanted to know what the movie was about, although Colbert may have kept that One Ring of information safely hidden.

Stephen Colbert found himself facing an unexpected Middle-earth interrogation when Steven Spielberg tried to pry details from him about the upcoming The Lord of the Rings movie. Talking on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Colbert recalled having lunch with the legendary director after the Obama Library opening, where Spielberg wasted little time asking him to reveal everything about the film.

"And I was terrified! I was afraid I would get in trouble, so I didn’t tell him anything," Colbert admitted.

Colbert explained that major productions come with strict NDAs and plenty of lawyers, making him nervous about saying too much. Spielberg even reminded Colbert that he knew Peter Jackson, seemingly hoping that would ease his worries. Instead, the Tolkien superfan played it safe and kept the movie details firmly under lock and key.

Colbert later told Philippa Boyens about the encounter, and the veteran Lord of the Rings screenwriter had a very different reaction. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Colbert revealed that Boyens pointed out Spielberg might have had a valuable idea to contribute. After all, when Steven Spielberg asks about Middle-earth, perhaps listening is worth risking a little Shire-level secrecy.

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Stephen Colbert’s free speech apparently needed a little protection around Lord of the Rings spoilers, although nothing was stopping him from talking about E.T. 2 with Steven Spielberg.

Stephen Colbert clearly had no shortage of extraterrestrial ideas when he pitched Steven Spielberg his very own E.T. sequel. During The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the host floated titles including E.T. 2 Electric Boogaloo and E.T. Again Too Extra Too Terrestrial, before sending the alien into battle against the Predator with CGI and a lightsaber. Colbert also wanted E.T. in a tight skin suit and demanded Reese’s Pieces over M&Ms.

Steven Spielberg laughed through the ambitious pitch but was not exactly ready to phone home for a sequel. The filmmaker explained that he had never considered making E.T. 2 because the original story stands beautifully on its own, and another chapter could risk damaging the affection audiences have for the first movie. Maybe, Colbert's true revenge was not revealing anything about the new Lord of the Rings plot to Spielberg.

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Would you like Steven Spielberg to have a hand in The Lord of the Rings movie? Let us know in the comments!