Stephen Colbert’s ultimate “Late Show” broadcast on Thursday will shut out his run within the storied CBS late-night chair as soon as occupied by David Letterman. What comes next stays an open query for considered one of tv’s most outstanding entertainers.
In the months main as much as his CBS farewell, Colbert has provided glimpses of his post-“Late Show” future whereas sidestepping different potentialities. He has introduced no less than one main mission, left the door open to creating one other present and repeatedly dismissed one of many extra far-fetched concepts floated by followers.
But Colbert has barely had time to plan his next strikes as a result of, as he told The New York Times in April, internet hosting the CBS late-night present “takes all my time.”
For now, the clearest reply issues hobbits.
Colbert has confirmed that he’s co-writing a brand new “Lord of the Rings” film for Warner Bros. alongside his son, Peter McGee.
Colbert announced the project in March alongside Peter Jackson, the director of the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” trilogies, saying the film would draw from “the six chapters early on in ‘The Fellowship’” that Jackson didn’t adapt within the unique trilogy.
Colbert’s “Lord of the Rings” mission predates the CBS choice to finish “The Late Show.” Colbert stated within the announcement that he had first approached Jackson in regards to the thought two years earlier.
Jackson confirmed that detail throughout a current interview with Variety on the Cannes Film Festival, saying Colbert had referred to as him “before he knew his show was going to finish” to debate “an idea for a Tolkien movie based on the books.”
Colbert has additionally prompt that he desires to maintain making tv, although he has not dedicated to a particular format.
“I could see creating a show,” Colbert told The Hollywood Reporter in early May. “But I don’t know what form it would take. I’m still doing this show.”
In a November interview with GQ, Colbert made clear he has not fantasized about strolling away from present enterprise altogether. “No,” he stated. “Because I love creating things and I still want to work with the people I work with.”
Colbert added: “I just love making things.”
Colbert has stated he’s obtained affords for new work, however that he has not been prepared to noticeably take into account them whereas ending “The Late Show.”
“People have called to say, ‘Do you want to do X, Y or Z?’ And I would say, like: ‘Hey, that’s great. I don’t think I could give you a good answer until I can really think about it,’” Colbert informed The Times final month.
Colbert has not introduced plans to seem on different late-night comedy exhibits, although he stays shut with a number of of his friends — and so a future sit-down wouldn’t come as a shock.
Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver teamed up in 2023 for the limited-series podcast “Strike Force Five,” and several other of them have publicly criticized CBS’ choice to finish Colbert’s present. The group additionally recently reunited on “The Late Show.”
Neither Kimmel nor Fallon is scheduled to host their respective exhibits on Thursday, the evening Colbert closes out “The Late Show.”
One path followers shouldn’t count on from Colbert is a comedy tour.
“It doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t do a live show at some point, but it’s not like I’m going to go out tomorrow and do a tight 10 at Zanies,” Colbert informed The Hollywood Reporter. “That hasn’t been my life, and it would be a big thing for me to do now.”
That is smart given Colbert’s background. His comedy roots are largely in improvisational theater, which “is collaborative in its nature,” he informed THR, “and all the shows that I’ve done have been collaborative.”
Colbert has been extra definitive about one ceaselessly floated thought: public workplace.
Fans have typically prompt Colbert run for president. The thought has adopted him partly due to his sharp criticism of recent politics and his extremely publicized, satirical 2008 bid for the Oval Office whereas internet hosting Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”
During an early-May conversation with Barack Obama, Colbert stated, “a lot of people tell me I should run for president,” later calling the concept “stupid.”
He requested Obama how “dumb” the suggestion was, and the previous president replied, “Well, you know, the bar has changed.” Colbert conceded, by laughter, “That is true.”
Colbert has outright dismissed the concept earlier than, telling Slate’s “Political Gabfest” final 12 months, “Absolutely not. Yeah, absolutely, I should not run for president.”
Before any next act takes form, Colbert seems headed for a household weekend of celebration.
Earlier this week, his youngest son, John, graduated from Yale University. And after Thursday’s broadcast, Colbert informed The Hollywood Reporter, his complete household is headed to Washington, DC, for his brother Tommy’s marriage ceremony.
Colbert’s longtime supervisor, James Dixon, didn’t reply to a request for remark.