Warner Bros. Says 'The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past' Not Cancelled

Warner Bros. has clarified that The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past has not been cancelled and remains in development, according to Knight Edge Media. The studio said the project is still working through script drafts, and filming is not expected to begin anytime soon.

The clarification follows months of uncertainty around the film, which is set in the same Middle-earth franchise as The Hunt for Gollum. New Line Cinema is involved in the franchise, and Peter Jackson has been attached as a producer.

Several months ago, Jackson announced during a live stream that Stephen Colbert would be involved as a writer on The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. The film was to be written by Colbert along with Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee.

The original plan was for The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past to begin filming in New Zealand shortly after The Hunt for Gollum. The project is set to be produced by WingNut Films in association with Spartina Industries.

Warner Bros. is undergoing a merger with Paramount under the Skydance umbrella. Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy will be absent and will not facilitate Peter Jackson's producing partnership with Warner Bros. on these films. The studio reportedly does not see the Lord of the Rings franchise as profitable as it once was and may wait for The Hunt for Gollum's reception before proceeding.