Stephen Colbert has long been one of the biggest names in 21st-century comedy, first making a name for himself as a writer on The Daily Show before stepping in front of the camera. Following nine years on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, he became one of a handful of major names in late-night TV, succeeding David Letterman after his retirement and becoming the host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015. Over the last 11 years, Colbert has covered the biggest news and stories from across the world, including three U.S. presidencies, the global COVID-19 pandemic, and countless major movie and TV releases. Known for his knack for blending comedic political satire with memorable character work and empathy, Colbert became one of the biggest names in pop culture, showing a genuine love for fandoms and stories across the entertainment industry. Now, his run in the spotlight is set to reach its end in dramatic fashion. The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is officially set to air tonight, May 21, at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and Paramount+. This episode will reportedly be 17 minutes longer than a usual Late Show entry, likely to deliver a few surprises to send Colbert off. This will mark the end of Colbert’s 11-year run as the host of his own late-night talk show, which began in 2015 and will finish with nearly 1,800 episodes airing on primetime TV. Colbert and Paramount announced in July 2025 that the show would air its final episodes this month, a move some believed was due to political pressure from United States President Donald Trump, who was highly critical of Colbert’s commentary on him and his administration. It also comes after a major merger between Skydance and Paramount Pictures. The show’s final guests are being kept secret until the series finale airs.

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In 2023, less than two years before the show was canceled, Colbert had accepted a three-year extension for his show, with Paramount seemingly wanting to keep him on the air for the foreseeable future. Now, after Colbert’s departure, CBS has decided not to continue The Late Show for the foreseeable future, instead filling the slot with Byron Allen’s talk show, Comics Unleashed, a comedy panel show that features stand-up comedians.

While Colbert’s future on television is still a mystery, he will be busy over the next couple of years with his first project in the Lord of the Rings franchise. Colbert will work with writers Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee on a sequel that will be released after 2027’s The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, based on the eighth chapter in The Fellowship of the Ring, titled “Fog on the Barrow-downs.” The story will be set 14 years after Frodo Baggins’ passing, centering on Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took retracing the first steps of their adventure. Sam’s daughter, Elanor, will also be a major part of the story, as she discovers a long-buried secret and sets out to learn why the War of the Ring was nearly lost before it even started.