Amazon is currently working on the 2nd season of the fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Find out everything you need to know about the start, new cast, plot and further developments here
After Amazon’s series launch of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in fall 2022 on Prime Video *, season 2 has now been shot and is in post-production. After we have already informed you about everything important about season 1 of The Rings of Power, we will now keep you up to date with constant updates regarding season 2. Here you can find the following information:
Start date season 2
The most important facts (costs, seasons & more)
Lord of the Rings cast & crew: returning cast, recasts & new additions
Season 2 plot
Controversies
Podcasts
An anime movie called The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has been announced for 2024 and postponed until Christmas. There are also plans for more new Lord of the Rings live-action films from Warner (a Lord of the Rings 4 and more, so to speak), which could bring back a wide variety of Lord of the Rings characters. However, these projects have nothing to do with the Amazon series The Rings of Power.
When does the 2nd season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power start on Amazon?
After season 1 of The Rings of Power was released on Amazon Prime in September/October 2022, the start of season 2 is expected to be two years away. An official date has not yet been set. In view of the elaborate production history to date, a launch is expected in the second half of 2024 on Prime Video, while another fantasy series on Amazon will fill the gap in fall 2023. Leaked production information confirms a planned start around October 2023
(The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power starts in season 2)
Shooting for the continuing Lord of the Rings series began on October 3, 2022, this time filming in the UK instead of New Zealand. Amusing Lord of the Rings ‘accidents’ by cast members kept fans entertained during the mystery-filled shoot. In addition, spy photos from the set revealed important new locations in advance
The most important facts about the Lord of the Rings series at a glance
The series creators behind The Rings of Power are Patrick McKay and John D. Payne. Amazon is working with J.R.R. Tolkien’s heirs at the Tolkien Estate
The Lord of the Rings series is set to run for 5 seasons, which are already (roughly) planned through to the end.
Amazon’s costs for the world’s most expensive series now total 1 billion dollars and are likely to rise even further. A budget of around 465 million dollars was spent on season 1, i.e. around 50 million per episode.
The Rings of Power is based on Tolkien’s extensive work: Officially, the series is only based on the appendices of The Lord of the Rings (in accordance with the legal situation), although the Tolkien Estate forbids a remake, sequel or a Middle-earth exploitation based on the MCU model. Unofficially, the series also repeatedly draws on The Silmarillion *
Season 2 of The Rings of Power will again have 8 episodes.
The cast: Who is in the cast of the 2nd Lord of the Rings season?
Many cast members from season 1 will also be seen in season 2. In the Rings of Power character ranking, clear favorites have already emerged. The non-Tolkien characters in particular have an enormous advantage. The return of the following actors is as good as certain:
(Which Lord of the Rings characters will return in season 2?)
Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Elf hunting Sauron
Halbrand/Sauron (Charlie Vickers), villain who wants to rule Middle-earth
Nori (Markella Kavenagh), Harfoot girl, i.e. Hobbit forerunner
The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), meteorite-crashed wizard
Elrond (Robert Aramayo), Elf with an amazing history
Durin IV (Owain Arthur), dwarf prince
Disa (Sophia Nomvete), dwarf princess, wife of Durin IV
Durin III (Peter Mullan), Dwarf King of Khazad-dûm
Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), elvish blacksmith
Elendil (Lloyd Owen), human captain of Númenor
Isildur (Maxim Baldry), Elendil’s son
Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), healer of the Southlands
Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), former Elven guardian of the Southlands
Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), Bronwyn’s son
Waldreg (Geoff Morrell), southern defector to Adar
Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), High King of the Elves
Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), Númenor’s queen-regent
Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle), Númenor’s chancellor
Kemen (Leon Wadham), Pharazôn’s son
Eärien (Ema Horvath), Elendil’s daughter
Valandil (Alex Tarrant), friend of Isildur
Largo (Dylan Smith), Nori’s harpfoot father
Marigold (Sara Zwangobani), Nori’s stepmother
Poppy (Megan Richards), Nori’s best friend
Malva (Thusitha Jayasundera), Harfuss’ gossip base
Vilma (Maxine Cunliffe), Harfuss wife
For many Lord of the Rings season 1 stars, their Middle-earth involvement brought them worldwide fame, with one speaking of his former homelessness for the first time. In addition, the ranks of the cast in season 2 will of course be bolstered with new actors.
The appearance of 5 new Lord of the Rings characters such as the missing Galadriel’s husband Celeborn was already hinted at in season 1. In December 2022, 6 new Rings of Power stars were announced for season 2 and then a further 8 actors were added. In addition, three new actors including a Harry Potter star joined the cast in March 2023
Adar (Sam Hazeldine replaces Joseph Mawle), orc father and fallen elven villain
Celeborn (Calam Lynch) clarifies the absence of Galadriel’s husband
Narvi (Kevin Eldon) is the dwarf who, along with elven friend Celebrimbor, will create Moria’s doors
Gabriel Akuwudike
Yasen Zates Atour
Nicholas Woodeson
Nia Towle
Ben Daniels
Amelia Kenworthy
Stuart Bowman
William Chubb
Will Keen
Selina Lo
Oliver Alvin-Wilson
Gavi Singh Chera
Ciarán Hinds
Rory Kinnear
Tanya Moodie
Círdan, the Elvish shipbuilder, is rumored to appear, but it is not yet known who will play him
Rumor has it that newcomer Jamie Bisping will also play an as yet unknown role (alias: Viran).
(The Rings of Power: Khazad-dûm aka Moria)
It is not unlikely that Jed Brophy, who has appeared in all Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films and the series to date, will return (as an orc). In addition, a guest appearance by the giant spider Kankra has already been leaked.
Lord of the Rings personality quiz: Which companion are you? Test yourself
The series crew of Amazon’s 2nd season of The Rings of Power
Behind the scenes of the Lord of the Rings series, 3 female directors take charge of season 2:
Charlotte Brändström (who directed episodes 6 and 7 of season 1) returns for 4 episodes.
Sanaa Hamri directs 2 episodes of The Lord of the Rings Returns.
Louise Hooper also takes on 2 episodes as director.
In the wake of the Hollywood 2023 writers’ strike, series showrunners John D. Payne and Patrick McKay stayed away from the set for the final 19 days of shooting season 2. In their strike absence, others took over responsibility. Filming officially ended at the beginning of June 2023
The Rings of Power: The plot of season 2 (and beyond)
The entire Lord of the Rings series in the Second Age is dedicated to the battle against the rising Sauron, who wants to seize power over Middle-earth after his evil master Melkor (or Morgoth). Season 2 will continue this conflict with two versions of Sauron. With only three of the 20 Rings of Power having been created so far, the jewelry-making must now continue to gather momentum. After the Elves, the 7 Dwarven Rings and then the 9 Human Rings should be made next, before Sauron forges his Master Ring.
For a better overview: All Middle-earth ages in the timeline overview
According to the showrunners, we can expect a big season 2 focus on Sauron after the Half-Brand reveal: the perhaps misunderstood villain, who concealed his identity in season 1 despite numerous clues, is now allowed to become more complex, Breaking Bad-style, and freely unleash his evil before our eyes. His story as the shape-shifter Annatar, as told by Tolkien, will also be taken into account.
However, it is likely that Sauron will first encounter his old enemy, the fallen Elf Adar and his light-shy Orcs, in the newly created Mordor. He could also run into Isildur, who was thought to be dead. There is also speculation about his negative influence on the dwarf Disa. The conflict on Númenor between “loyalists” and Pharazôn’s followers (i.e. Elven supporters and haters) is also coming more into focus. – According to FoF, however, there is also a dispute behind the scenes of the Amazon series as to whether the Elves or the Númenors should be given more weight in season 2.
(Lord of the Rings: Series Orc (Jed Brophy)
Some storylines for season 2 have already been hinted at in the Lord of the Rings series:
After the Stranger has been revealed as a sorcerer, his path leads the Meteorite Man and the harpfoot girl Nori to eastern Middle-earth: to Rhûn. For only there is the constellation of stars visible that he has been searching for since his arrival. Will they perhaps meet the Eastling Khamûl here, who will later become a Ringwraith?
With the introduction of the unseen world in the season 1 finale, the magical parallel dimension of the Nazgûl and mystics is also likely to play a greater role in the continuing narrative of The Rings of Power.
In the island kingdom of Númenor, on the other hand, the death of Míriel’s father Tar-Palantír leads to a change of ruler, which could set the course for the prophesied catastrophe.
The now homeless southerners, on the other hand, flee to the port city of Pelargir.
For the dwarves, on the other hand, the last Mithril word has not yet been spoken. The rise to greatness must eventually be followed by the (Balrog) fall. And is Durin IV still heir to the throne of Khazad-dûm after the quarrel with his father?
How the elves now use their three mighty rings to fight Sauron, especially as Galadriel has kept his true identity to herself for the time being.
The Lord of the Rings showrunners are also already teasing a huge new battle that will take place over two episodes. Secret set photos here refer to the start of the war between Elves and Sauron in Eregion.
In addition, Elrond will probably consider founding Rivendell in the fantasy series so that the series can return to one of the most beautiful Middle-earth lands.
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(First Lord of the Rings series battle in episode 6 (Udûn)
In addition, it is already becoming clear what the Lord of the Rings narrative will ultimately lead to after 5 well-planned seasons: the battle of the Last Alliance against Sauron. A hidden scene in season 1 already hinted at the partly tragic ending of the finale.
It remains to be seen whether we will get to see more of the Middle-earth backstory of the Valar and Maiar after the secret meaning of the series intro
Criticism and controversy surrounding The Rings of Power
Whether short-haired elves, dwarf beards or frustration over invented characters: The Lord of the Rings series was received controversially by audiences. Reactions were split into two camps: after the finale, fan voices ranged from “dreadful mess” to “best series of the year”.
Judging by the audience figures for the series’ success, streaming competitor Netflix would probably have canceled The Rings of Power after one season. Nevertheless, Amazon pressed ahead with plans for its Lord of the Rings franchise and even commissioned a new Middle-earth video game
Review: The season 1 launch of The Rings of Power in series review
More: The best series of 2022 including Lord of the Rings
(The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power)
In addition, hostility because of their skin color was not uncommon for many Rings of Power actors. Lord of the Rings stars condemned the racist attacks on the new Middle-earth staff. In the wake of the wave of hate, Amazon even turned off the comment function. For stars like Ismael Cruz Córdova, this went so far that Amazon hired a set therapist to help the affected actors deal with the hostility following death threats.
Tolkien hardcore fans disliked not least the chronological liberties the series took to allow important events to take place over a shorter period of time (instead of constantly replacing short-lived human protagonists over thousands of years). There was also much criticism of Galadriel’s new portrayal of the familiar character throughout season 1.
Moviepilot interview: “Did we do everything right?”, ask the Lord of the Rings creators
Also, Lord of the Rings film actor Bernard Hill criticized the Lord of the Rings series as pure moneymaking with no intentions of watching it. Legolas actor Orlando Bloom, on the other hand, praised The Rings of Power as “brave” and was already looking forward to more
(The Rings of Power: Adar in Season 1)
The replacement of the Adar actor also caused a stir as a setback for the series, even though his replacement brought a lot of fantasy experience with him.
The criticism (including angry fan petitions) that arose in the run-up to the casting calls for nude scenes in The Hobbits did not find any further targets in the course of season 1, as there were no sex scenes or anything similar for the time being. The level of violence also remained limited to an age rating of 12+ on Amazon, although the series had been filmed in a much more brutal manner
One of the more bizarre events was a garbage company that made reference to the Lord of the Rings franchise: It was threatened with a lawsuit if it didn’t change its name. A Rings of Power star’s Twitter mistake, on the other hand, was met with meme humor.
Fan gimmick: This is what The Lord of the Rings would have looked like as a Wes Anderson film
After a horse died on the Lord of the Rings set, the animal rights organization PETA condemned this and called for the use of CGI instead of real animals.
In April 2023, a Lord of the Rings lawsuit was filed over plagiarism allegations, with Demetrious Polychron claiming that Amazon had stolen from his novel The Fellowship of the King. Shortly afterwards, the author was sued in turn by the Tolkien heirs for his banned Lord of the Rings sequel.
