Stephen Colbert Gets Precious Gollum-Inspired Gift After Lord of the Rings Announcement

If you thought late-night TV and Tolkien rarely cross paths, you haven’t been watching Stephen Colbert recently. We’ve known for ages that Colbert is the internet’s most passionate Lord of the Rings nerd, but this week, the Middle-earth connection hit a new level thanks to one of his old media pals—and a seriously bizarre painting.

The CNN Anchor, the Talk Show Host, and...Gollum?

Here’s what went down: Jake Tapper stopped by The Late Show for what might be his last chat with Colbert (since the host is leaving in 2026—more on that below). Rather than the usual handshake and “see you never, pal,” Tapper brought a parting gift. Not just any gift, either—the guy made a painting. Yes, Jake Tapper, who apparently still paints on the side, went full fan-art for Colbert.

Now, picking a present for a celebrity mega-nerd is a minefield. Tapper told the crowd he was struggling, so he called in Colbert’s wife, Evelyn, for help. Her advice? Skip the clichés:

She was like, 'He’s got plenty of those. He doesn’t need another "Stephen Colbert as a Hobbit." He doesn’t need another "Stephen Colbert as a wizard."'

Can you imagine Colbert’s house? It must look like a Tolkien-themed wax museum. Anyway, Tapper took that under advisement but didn’t give up on the Middle-earth angle.

And the Big Reveal Is...

So on the show, Tapper unveils his handiwork: a totally unique portrait of Stephen Colbert reimagined as—you guessed it—Gollum, clutching the One Ring like his life depends on it. Colbert, true to form, gave it his all and dropped a perfect “My precious.” For the record, he looked genuinely touched, and probably a little unsettled.

Context Matters (and It Gets Weirder)

• Colbert isn’t just a Lord of the Rings fan—he’s all-in. He’s so into Middle-earth that even his send-off gifts are Tolkien-themed.
• FYI, that final Late Show is coming up: Colbert will bow out on May 21, 2026. We’ve got time to savor more weird moments.
• He’s not done with the Tolkien-verse, either. Colbert and his son, Peter McGee (who’s a screenwriter), are working on a brand new Lord of the Rings movie with Philippa Boyens, one of the minds behind the original films. Warner Bros. is officially on board, with Peter Jackson popping up in a studio promo to tease that this is just phase one of their next fantasy onslaught.

Bottom line: If you’re keeping score at home, Stephen Colbert just got immortalized as Gollum on national TV, has a secret room full of Hobbit memorabilia, and will soon have real creative stakes in the next big Middle-earth movie cycle. Is there such a thing as too much Lord of the Rings in one life? If there is, Colbert hasn’t hit that limit yet.