After setting a record as the most expensive television show ever made two years ago, Amazon Prime Video's "The Rings of Power" has finally returned.
The series set in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" — but not based directly on any of his novels — debuted its eight-episode second season at the end of August, further exploring the world of Middle-earth in the "Second Age", a period thousands of years before the events of Tolkien's books.
Having been unmasked in season 1, Sauron (Charlie Vickers) is now poised to continue his ascension, while the elves Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo) will continue their efforts to oppose him.
Although the first season received a mixed response from critics and viewers, it still stands as Prime Video's most-watched series (even after the success of "Fallout"), and anticipation for season 2 remained high.
Given how much money Amazon's already sunk into "The Rings of Power", they're not going to give up their efforts to turn it into a phenomenon and make it one of the best Prime Video shows, even if it's not attracting quite as many viewers.
Here's everything we know about "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" season 2.
'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' season 2 release date
As announced at Amazon's first-ever upfront presentation for advertisers in May, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" season 2 would premiere on August 29, almost exactly two years after the premiere of the first season.
Six episodes of the series are now available to stream, with a handful still to air. Here's the full "The Rings of Power" season 2 release schedule so you know when the remaining episodes will land.
That's an additional premiere episode compared to the first season, which debuted only two episodes in its first week. While the first season was produced in New Zealand, where director Peter Jackson shot his massively popular "Lord of the Rings" movies, production moved to the United Kingdom for the second season.
That streamlined the production process and allowed the season to continue shooting despite delays related to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but the quicker turnaround time may come at the expense of some visual grandeur.
Need more escapism in your life? Get your fantasy fix with our round-up of the best Prime Video fantasy shows you can stream right now.
'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' season 2 trailers
A final "Rings of Power" season 2 trailer arrived in mid-August, and it seems purpose-built to get us as hyped as possible for the new chapter. Beginning with scenes of battle, it's all designed to demonstrate Sauron's might. His military might is on full display, as are his powers of manipulation. Check it out below:
A new look at the show came with the San Diego Comic Comic Con 2024 trailer. In this four-minute-long teaser, there are fears about Sauron's machinations, the rings themselves, and glimpses at the conflict to come. It looks beautiful and action-packed in equal measure; check it out below:
Released alongside the premiere date announcement in May, the first trailer for "The Rings of Power" season 2 teases the further rise of the evil wizard Sauron, who was revealed during the first season to be hiding under the guise of the human Halbrand (Charlie Vickers).
He's now operating in the open, and the trailer warns that "every soul in Middle-earth is in peril" thanks to the coming of Sauron. The trailer features bursts of action, including a giant bridge collapse and plenty of swordplay. It looks suitably epic for the next phase of the story.
If you'd like to hear from the stars of "The Rings of Power" season 2, Prime Video has also released a new promo video called the "Call to Adventure". This new teaser offers both a glimpse behind the scenes and the chance to get fresh insight about what will crop up in the new season from both cast and crew.
'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' season 2 cast
Part of the epic scope of "The Rings of Power" is its sprawling cast, led by Morfydd Clark as the elf warrior Galadriel. As the second season is set to expand the story even further, the cast is expanding, too, with at least 17 actors announced as new recurring players, including well-known character actors Ciaran Hinds and Rory Kinnear. That's in addition to the already extensive main cast, most of whom are confirmed for a return (barring one exception).
Many of the new recurring players may only show up briefly, given how easily such a large cast could become unwieldy, but several are playing big names in the show. Sam Hazeldine, who's taking over the role of Adar from first-season actor Joseph Mawle, whilst Rory Kinnear is finally bringing the fan-favorite character Tom Bombadil to life in live-action.
Here's a rundown of what we expect the main cast to look like in "The Rings of Power" season 2.
- Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
- Robert Aramayo as Elrond
- Ismael Cruz Cordova as Arondir
- Charlie Vickers as Halbrand/Sauron
- Markella Kavenagh as Nori Brandyfoot
- Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
- Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV
- Benjamin Walker as High King Gil-galad
- Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa
- Peter Mullan as King Durin III
- Charles Edwards as Lord Celebrimbor
- Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel
- Lloyd Owen as Elendil
- Alex Tarrant as Valandil
- Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo
- Robert Aramayo as Elrond
- Geoff Morrell as Waldreg
- Maxim Baldry as Isildur
- Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
One star we know won't be returning is Nazanin Boniadi, who played Bronwyn, a healer from the village of Tirharad. In an Instagram post, the actress confirmed she would not be returning for the second season.
Since Deadline has confirmed that Boniadi's role has not been recast, it will be interesting to see how her absence from the story affects the series. Her absence from the story leaves Theo without his mother, and it is unclear how the show will resolve her love affair with Arondir. The last time we saw her, she wanted to lead her people to Pelargir. Perhaps it will turn out that the journey is more fraught than she expected...
'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' season 2 plot
The official season 2 description from Prime Video reads: "In Season Two of 'The Rings of Power,' Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.”
That clearly showed that the struggle against Sauron, now openly pursuing his sinister agenda, was the main focus of the second season, along with the creation of the dangerous Rings of Power that will eventually reach familiar characters Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.
Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay previously indicated that Sauron won't just be the villain in season 2, and that he may be closer to the protagonist, just as Galadriel was in the first season. "We felt Sauron should be a character in his own right," McKay told The Hollywood Reporter. "We wanted to study the currents running within him in a way that hopefully would reward audiences as they follow him moving forward as he becomes the Dark Lord."
This is an attitude subsequently echoed in the July 2024 issue of Total Film. "We like to say that Season 1 was primarily about our heroes", McKay and Payne said. "But season 2 is all about the villains.
"This time, Sauron's agenda sets everything in motion: Adar and his army of orcs, Galadriel, Elrond and Gil-galad and their armies of elves - all of which will come crashing together in the most ambitious battle our show has seen yet, a battle from which many big players may not make it out alive."
The pair added that smith Celebrimbor would also eature more heavily than he previously did, with the showrunners describing him as 'the principal protagonist' and confirming the dynamic between him and Sauron would become the 'central relationship' for "The Rings of Power" season 2.
Are we getting 'The Rings of Power' season 3?
Amazon's licensing deal included a plan for five seasons, which suggests that we'll certainly be seeing more from Middle-earth, and if you're a fantasy fan, all signs still point to a "Rings of Power" return later down the line.
Thanks to a report from THR,we already knew that Patrick McKay and JD Payne were preparing to break the initial story outline for a third season back in February 2024.
And when they were asked about the third season at "The Rings of Power" season 2 world premiere in August, McKay coyly said: "All we can say is, we're working on it. We're cooking. Let us cook!"
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