STEPHEN Colbert has revealed a VERY unexpected next career move now that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has officially come to an end.
The TV host surprised fans by opening up about what he plans to do after stepping away from late-night television.
The comedian hinted he could swap the studio for a completely different path, admitting he’s excited to explore fresh opportunities after years on late-night TV.
His next move is worlds away from late-night TV, with Stephen revealing he’s now working on a Lord of the Rings script.
It’s a project that he’s writing with his son Peter and has been working on since the pandemic.
Stephen revealed: “This has been years I’ve been thinking about it.
“I’ve been working on it with my son since COVID actually, and then working on it with Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh for almost two years now. So that wasn’t a post-show idea.”
Fans were left stunned by the unexpected revelation, with many saying they never saw the career move coming.
Meanwhile, any other plans remain up in the air as he has been focused on ending the show on a high note.
“We’ll land this plane and we’ll check out the view from there,” he said of finishing the longtime program.
Stephen first took over The Late Show in 2015 following David Letterman’s retirement.
He became known for blending humour, political satire and heartfelt interviews.
Last July, CBS cancelled Colbert’s top-rated late night show, saying it was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”
But his fans and friends say it was retribution for his continuous criticism of President Trump and his administration.
The final episode of The Late Show aired on CBS on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:35 p.m. It’s available to watch on Paramount+.
