Stephen Colbert ‘LOTR’ 20th Anniversary: 'Where The H--- Are The Celebrations?'
By Kristin Myers on December 17, 2021 at 8:26 AM EST
Stephen Colbert brings up a great point.
The “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is getting a special on HBO Max to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary, but “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is also marking its 20th anniversary this year, and they get nothing?
Well, J.R.R. Tolkein’s number one fan had something to say about that!
Colbert Reunites The ‘LOTR’ Cast For A Special Reunion
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On last night’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” the host mentioned that he was going to be taking a holiday break, which means he wouldn’t be on air to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film.
“Which also happens to be the 20th anniversary of me not shutting up about ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,’” he joked.
“What I want to know is: where the h--- are the celebrations?” he demanded. “How is it possible that we are not marking it as a people? ‘Harry Potter’ is getting a giant 20th-anniversary special with a full cast reunion. Seriously? Harry Potter's fine, but it's no Lord of the Rings. I mean, Dumbledore couldn't take a Balrog. Dumbledore was killed by a high school chemistry teacher.”
“So I think Peter Jackson’s towering achievement deserves the same kind of recognition,” Colbert continued, calling it the greatest trilogy in movie history. “I know I have said that many times before, but I have never – not once – rapped it… until now.”
‘Lord Of The Rings’ Is The #1 Trilly
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The film brings back an impressive amount of cast members, including Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee), Billy Boyd (Pippin), Dominic Monaghan (Merry), Orlando Bloom (Legolas), Hugo Weaving (Elrond), and Andy Serkis (Gollum). Together, they rapped with Colbert and ‘Late Show’ pianist Jon Batiste to remind fans that “Lord of the Rings” is the number one “trilly.”
The song took several swipes at other popular franchises, including “Star Wars.”
Baptiste raps “‘Star Wars’ is better? Oh you make me sick,” before Colbert adds, “Jar Jar can go ahead and suck my…. ring!”
They also took aim at “Twilight,” “Pitch Perfect,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Mighty Ducks,” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Boring.”
Weaving rapped in Elvish while Serkin played the flute, but Bloom couldn’t help but mention, “I will admit, the ‘Naked Gun’ movies are pretty great.”
Although the late Leslie Nielsen definitely deserves some love, the song couldn’t help but poke fun at Anna Kendrick several times, even bringing up her role in “Twilight.”
“I was barely in those movies,” a frustrated Kendrick exclaims before she raps along with the cast.
Although the “official, exclusive” reunion was sure to please “LOTR” fans, many couldn’t help but note that it was lacking Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf). Considering they managed to wrangle McKellen for the box office flop “Cats,” many fans were disappointed that McKellen didn’t make an appearance here.
At least there’s always next year, when “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” celebrates its 20th anniversary on December 18, 2022.
Fans can watch the full segment, including the rap song, below.