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Emmys 2025: Why Stephen Colbert Has No Plans After Late-Night Run
It’s never too late for Stephen Colbert to start a new chapter.
Two months before The Late Show with Stephen Colbert comes to an end, The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson revealed the late-night host is set to “develop the script” for an upcoming film in the franchise.
After announcing that the LOTR team was working with "a very special partner” in a March 25 X video, Peter teased that fans could “see for yourself” who that person would be as Stephen entered the clip in a split-screen, where he could be seen with his nose in a book from the series.
As a self-proclaimed superfan of the novels, Stephen couldn’t hide his excitement over his new role.
"I’m pretty happy about it” he said. “You know what the books mean to me and what your films mean to me.”
Noting that he wanted to focus the upcoming movie on chapters three through six from the first book, which never made it into the movies, Stephen knew for some time now “that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story.”
“It took me a few years to scrape my courage into a pile to give you a call,” he explained of the script-writing process. “But about two years ago, I did. You liked it enough to talk to me about it.”
And ever since, the two of them have been working together on “how to develop the story.”
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Though the 61-year-old has been eyeing the opportunity since before he announced CBS’s cancellation of the late-night franchise—which began with David Letterman in 1993—after 33 years on the air, he shared how the stars aligned for his new role.
“I did not think I would have the time, as much as I love it,” he explained. “I knew I couldn’t do that and do the show at the same time but it turns out I’m going to be free starting this summer.”
Indeed, following 10 years as host on The Late Show, Stephen—dad to kids Madeleine, Peter, and John with wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert—revealed that the show would end in May 2026.
“It's not just the end of our show, but it's the end of The Late Show on CBS,” Stephen told his audience in a clip shared to his Instagram July 17. “I'm not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images
While lamenting the network’s decision to sunset the franchise—which he explained he had only learned about the day before—the Emmy winner thanked his loyal audience and crew.
“I'm grateful to you, the audience, who have joined us,” he continued. “I'm grateful to share the stage with this band, these artists over here every night. And I am extraordinarily, deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here.”
"We get to do this show for each other every day, all day,” he added, "and I've had the pleasure and the responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years.”
But The Late Show isn’t the only franchise going off the air. Keep reading for more TV cancellations…
Michael Yarish/Paramount+
RENEWED: Criminal Minds: Evolution
The long-running FBI drama will solve more heinous crimes and murders when season 20 debuts on Paramount+ in 2027.
Apple TV
RENEWED & ENDING: For All Mankind
Apple TV announced the space drama will return for a sixth and final season.
HBO Max
ENDING: Hacks
The Emmy-winning comedy starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder returns with its fifth and final season April 9.
Peacock/NBCUniversal
RENEWED: Ashanti and Nelly: We Belong Together
Music to our ears! The Peacock reality series following Ashanti and Nelly's decades-long love story will return for season two.
Sophy Holland/Bravo
ON PAUSE: The Real Housewives of Miami
The Bravo series has halted production after season seven ended in October due to low ratings, according to multiple outlets. Fingers crossed we get our drama-loving Florida ladies back ASAP.
Ryan Muir/TBS/Warner Bros. Discovery
RENEWED: Impractical Jokers
Comedians Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray and Sal Vulcano will return for more laughs and pranks when season 13 of the TBS series premieres.
Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios
RENEWED: Cross
Prime Video's thriller series will solve more mysteries and murder cases on season three.
Netflix
NOT ENDING, BUT...: With Love, Meghan
The royal's Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which released seasons one and two in 2025, has not been renewed for a third season on the streaming platform, but is instead continuing with one-off episodes.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes told Variety in a story published March 17, “With Love, Meghan will continue as seasonal specials.”
Disney/Anne Marie Fox
RENEWED: Paradise
The post-apocalyptic drama starring Sterling K. Brown will return for season three on Hulu.
Ben Symons/Peacock
RENEWED: Love Island USA & Love Island: Beyond the Villa
Peacock's hit dating reality competition series and its spinoff will return this year for seasons eight and two, respectively.
Sonja Flemming/CBS
RENEWED: Marshals
The Duttons aren't going anywhere. The Yellowstone spinoff starring Luke Grimes was renewed for a second season at CBS.
Paramount/CBS Media Ventures
RENEWED: The Drew Barrymore Show
Drew Barrymore's eponymous daytime talk show will be back for seasons seven and eight.
AMC Networks
RENEWED: The Audacity
The new AMC drama has already been renewed for a second season ahead of its season one debut in April.
Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios
ENDING: The Boys
In the fifth and final season, it’s Homelander’s world, completely subject to his erratic, egomaniacal whims. Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a “Freedom Camp.” Annie struggles to mount a resistance against the overwhelming Supe force. Kimiko is nowhere to be found. But when Butcher reappears, ready and willing to use a virus that will wipe all Supes off the map, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change the world and everyone in it. It’s the climax, people. Big stuff’s gonna happen.
MTV/Paramount Networks
ENDING: Jersey Shore Family Vacation
Get ready to GTL one last time. MTV announced the upcoming eighth season of the reality show will be it's last.
The final season premieres May 7.
Disney
RENEWED: Abbott Elementary
School will be back in session when Quinta Brunson's Emmy-winning ABC comedy returns for season six.
NBC
RENEWED: Destination X
NBC has renewed the travel and adventure reality competition series for a sophomore season.
Netflix
RENEWED: Little House on the Prairie
Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s enduring book series has been renewed for season two ahead of its season one debut.
Simon Ridgway/HBO
RENEWED & ENDING: Industry
The HBO drama will return for a fifth and final season sometime next year.
MGM+/Amazon MGM Studios
RENEWED: Robin Hood
MGM+ has renewed the adventure drama for season two.
Warner Bros.
RENEWED: The Jennifer Hudson Show
Jennifer Hudson's eponymous talk show will return for season five.
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
ENDING: The Kelly Clarkson Show
Kelly Clarkson's NBC daytime talk show will conclude later this year after season seven. And while the musician noted that it was "not an easy decision" to say goodbye, she revealed that she ultimately chose to walk away to focus on her kids River, 11, and Remington, 9, who she shared with late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
"Stepping away from the daily schedule will allow me to prioritize my kids, which feels necessary and right for this next chapter of our lives," Kelly wrote in a statement on X Feb. 2. "This isn't goodbye. I'll still be making music, playing shows here and there, and you may catch me on The Voice from time to time."
Netflix
RENEWED: Black Mirror
On Jan. 9, Netflix announced that the Charlie Brooker-created anthology series will be returning for an eighth season.
Warrick Page/Max
RENEWED: The Pitt
Noah Wyle is ready to scrub back in as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch for season three of The Pitt. Indeed, just one day before the Jan. 8 season two premiere, HBO Max confirmed the series would return for a third in 2026.
2025, FX
RENEWED: The Lowdown
Lee Raybon (Ethan Hawke) will have another season to expose corruption and mystery in the self-proclaimed truthstorian hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, with the FX series being greenlit for its second season Jan. 7.
Eric Ogden/Paramount+
RENEWED: Mayor of Kingstown
Say goodbye to the McLusky family. The Paramount+ series was renewed for its fifth and final season, the streaming service announced Jan. 5.
CAROLINE DUBOIS/NETFLIX
RENEWED: Emily In Paris
Bonjour, season six! Emily In Paris was greenlit for a sixth installment two weeks after its season five premiere on Netflix.
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