Peter Jackson Says Shadow of the Past Still Being Written
Peter Jackson confirmed at the Sitges Film Festival that The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past is still in the scriptwriting phase. The update came after reports that Skydance had paused the project following the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, though Warner Bros. said it was not canceled. The film is planned to take place 14 years after Frodo's death and follow Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Sam's daughter Elanor as they uncover a buried secret.
At Sitges, where he received an honorary grand prize, Jackson said Shadow of the Past remains in script development. The project was announced in March by Warner Bros. and New Line, with Philippa Boyens, Peter McGee, and Stephen Colbert writing. Reports said Skydance paused it after the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger; Warner Bros. maintained it was not canceled.
The story is planned to occur 14 years after Frodo's death. Sam, Merry, and Pippin retrace their earlier journey while Sam's daughter Elanor investigates a hidden secret tied to how close the War of the Ring came to being lost. Jackson also said The Hunt for Gollum has roughly two weeks of filming left and Tintin 2 is scripted.
News that Shadow of the Past remains in development may reassure Tolkien fans and theatergoers who feared the project had ended. If it eventually reaches screens, it could extend a major fantasy franchise's cultural reach and affect cinemas, merchandise, and streaming libraries. The uncertainty may also shape expectations among cast and crew, though no release date means concrete effects remain speculative.