Stephen Colbert Plays Coy Over ‘Hobbit’ Cameo During Interview

Playboy doesn’t often make our editorial, but, when they sit down with the likes of Stephen Colbert for a lengthy interview in which a potential cameo role for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit is hinted at, we tend to sit up to attention.

Gentleman’s magazine Playboy sat down with the comedian pundit to discuss a wide range of topics including his Colbert Show persona, thoughts on Ron L. Hubbard (the controversial founder of Scientology), and what Bill O’Reilly is really like off-camera. The biggest item that caught our attention was Colbert’s admission that he was invited to the set of The Hobbit last year. He is, himself, a huge Tolkien fan and took director Peter Jackson up on the offer.

“Peter Jackson invited me to the set last year. I flew out and watched them shoot some scenes and went to some locations. I saw a 25-minute cut, and it was amazing. Jackson knows I’m a big fan of the films,” Colbert said.

But was it just a friendly visit, or did Colbert manage to nab a cameo role for himself while on-set?

PLAYBOY: You flew out to New Zealand just to watch? He didn’t hire you as an extra or something?

COLBERT: [Smiles]

PLAYBOY: Are you telling us you’re in the Hobbit movie?

COLBERT: Could be. [smiles]

PLAYBOY: Can you elaborate?

COLBERT: [Fumbles with paper on his desk] So, uh, I was just writing Mr. Jackson a note to congratulate him on making The Hobbit into three movies. Because I think that’s just fantastic.

PLAYBOY: You’re not going to tell us anything, are you?

COLBERT: [Smiles, says nothing]

PLAYBOY: You sneaky bastard.

Though our mind is running wild just as yours likely is, we’re siding with Empire at the moment in categorizing this as “intriguing but totally, absolutely, 100% unconfirmed; in fact wild speculation until further notice.”

Sound off on Stephen Colbert’s potential cameo in The Hobbit!