Colbert’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Gig Reveals Ugly Hollywood Truth

Jimmy Kimmel hates more than just President Donald Trump.

He clearly loathes the Republican half of his country. Just ask his wife or listen to any of Kimmel’s nightly ABC monologues.

Yet the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences saw fit to have him host the Oscars.

Four times.

Now, why would an august body hire a comic whose presence scares off countless viewers? Don’t they want as robust an audience as possible for Hollywood’s biggest night?

There are only two possible reasons for their decision:

• They had no clue that a good swath of the country loathes Kimmel
• They didn’t care that a good swath of the country loathes Kimmel

Here’s betting the first answer is accurate. At least, we hope so.

Call it the Hollywood Bubble, the cultural barrier that protects liberal artists from knowing what the rest of America thinks on a given topic. The artists don’t read The Daily Wire, watch Fox News or laugh at the Fellas over at the “Ruthless” podcast.

They have no clue how one side of the country thinks on key political and cultural issues. And it’s crushing their industry. It’s why when no one watches “Starfleet Academy,” a woke jamboree, they’re stunned.

Or why Michael Gandolfini, son of the late “Sopranos” star James Gandolfini, thinks his Disney+ show’s political agenda makes it bold and exciting … instead of predictable and trite.

#DaredevilBornAgain star Michael Gandolfini says he’s “really proud” to be part of a show that reflects the current political climate:

“We do a lot of safe things in film now. To do something risky that says something is rare.”

Read the full premiere breakdown:… pic.twitter.com/S46nxowk7a

— Variety (@Variety) March 25, 2026

That’s the Bubble talking. Which leads us to Stephen Colbert’s curious new gig.

The soon-to-be-ex “Late Show” host will be co-writing a new “Lord of the Rings” movie. Colbert’s qualifications? He’s a big Tolkien fan.

So are millions of people, but they’re not getting paid big bucks to pen a film on the subject. What else is on Colbert’s resume? Any major screenplay credits?

The answer would be “no.”

Why would “LOTR” guru Peter Jackson select Colbert to co-write such a massive project? That’s a mystery for the ages. And, perhaps, Colbert will rise to the occasion and uncork a killer story.

Nothing is impossible. Will it matter?

Colbert is one of the most divisive figures in entertainment. He’s spent a decade attacking President Donald Trump and every major right-leaning figure. Night after night. Week after week. Year after year.

If you’re running a film studio, would you hire someone to pen an expensive project knowing his presence would keep people far away from the theater?

Of course not. Yet someone OK’d Colbert’s writing gig.

That’s the Hollywood Bubble at its best, by which we mean, “worst.”