Oh, No! Anyway...

Summary

The speaker reacts to Stephen Colbert’s involvement in a planned Warner Bros. film adaptation of previously unseen Tolkien material, titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. They argue the project has been widely disliked from the start due to Hollywood’s problematic history with Tolkien-related properties.

Key objections to the project

• Rumored creative direction

  • The film is described as a potential “retread” of familiar past events, aimed at nostalgia rather than meaningful new storytelling.
  • The speaker also highlights the emphasis on Sam’s daughter, Eleanor, framing her as a likely teenage “boss girl” type figure.

• Colbert’s perceived tonal mismatch

  • The speaker suggests Colbert’s political/comedic style is incompatible with the tone they want from Tolkien adaptations.

“Good news”: the film is put on hold

The speaker presents the suspension of the project as good news, tying it to corporate changes involving a Warner Bros. takeover by Paramount and Skydance. They explain that in major studio mergers, expensive productions are often paused while new ownership decides what to keep and what to scrap—possibly including:

• removing Colbert from the project, and/or
• shelving the film entirely

Additional speculation

• Colbert may face industry pushback

  • The speaker speculates Colbert could be effectively “blacklisted,” citing a prior dismissal from a CBS show that was owned by Skydance at the time.
  • As a result, they argue he may not be favored under the new corporate structure.

• The premise may not justify a full film

  • The speaker doubts the creative viability of the likely approach: replaying known story material with limited new exposition would not be enough to support a feature-length movie.

Broader criticism of modern Hollywood

They claim modern Hollywood lacks the courage and artistic alignment needed for Tolkien-like storytelling—especially clear moral themes. They contrast this with what they credit as earlier filmmakers’ success, particularly Peter Jackson.

Conclusion

The speaker says they are not surprised the project was suspended and would not mind if it remains that way. They express a preference for the existing 2000s Tolkien film legacy, rather than additional contemporary adaptations.

Closing promotion

The video ends with a promotional segment for Halloween-themed “Critical Drinker” and “Critical Doggo” merchandise.