Colbert reacts to 'Lord of the Rings' fans outraged over his involvement in upcoming film

"If there is a silver lining to Colbert's unexpected ouster, it's that he is now able to be intimately involved in co-writing an installment of the Lord of the Rings film franchise," The Hollywood Reporter wrote. "The project is already six years in the making and a lifelong dream for the self-proclaimed superfan."

"You've announced your next act: a Lord of the Rings film. Naturally, there's a contingent of the LOTR fan community that's miffed: 'Why does Stephen get to write this? Just because he's famous and a superfan?'" The Hollywood Reporter interviewer asked. "Tell them why they should trust you."

"I mean, there's no reason to," Colbert said. "And there's no value in me addressing that because all you can do as - I'll use a loaded term here - an artist is follow your heart and the craft that you have learned to try to turn this into something that is not fandom but drama."

"And luckily, I don't have to do this alone," he continued. "I have a great Sherpa in [co-writer and LOTR veteran] Philippa Boyens, who cares about it in the same way I do. And I will just say that every moment has been a joy so far."

Colbert initially revealed in a video announcement in March that he will co-write the next "Lord of the Rings" movie after his show ends this month.

Colbert said the next film would be based on "Fog on the Barrow-downs," chapter eight of "The Fellowship of the Ring," the first book in the fantasy trilogy from J.R.R. Tolkien.