The Rings of Power season 2 is a-go. The season 1 finale solely aired on October 14, however, the subsequent entry within the bid funds Prime Video collection is already in manufacturing. That is music to our ears, as we have loved what Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV present needed to supply.
Nonetheless, it’s going to be a protracted look forward to season 2 landing on Prime Video. The TV reveals of this scale take time to move, edit, and undergo their post-production phases. In brief: do not count on seeing The Rings of Power again on your screens subsequent 12 months.
Whereas we look forward to The Rings of Power’s second season to reach, there’s loads of studying you can do on the subject. Beneath, we have compiled every part we all know concerning the present’s second season. That features its returning solid members and plot threads – primarily based on what occurred in episode Eight and its predecessors – in addition to its potential launch date, what the long run holds for the massive fund’s collection, and extra.
Main spoilers for The Rings of Power’s first season, plus potential season 2 spoilers and extracts from J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary supply materials, comply with . Flip again now if you happen to not catch up.
The Rings of Power season 2 launch date: what we all know
No launch date has been set for The Rings of Power season 2.
The present’s subsequent instalment is already in manufacturing, although, Amazon confirming as much throughout The Rings of Power’s New York Comedian-Con 2022 panel. This traces up to what our sources informed us earlier than that fan occasion.
Nevertheless, New Zealand is not the collection’s major filming location. Manufacturing has moved to the UK, with Bray Movie Studios and Bovingdon Airfield getting used for on-set capturing. Count on the solid crew to a movie in pure landscapes throughout the UK – and doubtlessly Europe, too, with showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay teasing us a lot throughout a September 2022 Q&A occasion that we attended.
Celebrimbor learns that season 2 will not be right here subsequent 12 months. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) Earlier than filming obtained underway, the solid had been coy about when filming would start. Robert Aramayo – who performs Elrond – completely informed us that he could not say when principal images would begin. Nevertheless, Galadriel actor Morfydd Clark informed us filming would start “very quickly”, which is the case now.
So when can we count on The Rings of Power season 2 to reach? The primary season took 18 months to shoot because of the pandemic. Talking to Esquire, Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, stated the staff desires to get season 2 “out into the world as quickly as we can”. So it is doubtless that season 2 will not take as long to the movie, however, there will be a prolonged post-production section (and potential reshoots) as soon as every part has been filmed.
Our guess? Do not count on The Rings of Power to return till early 2024. Amazon is about to launch the following entry in its different costly fantasy collection – The Wheel of Time season 2 – in 2023, so we’ll have some excessive fantasy to tide us over till The Rings of Power season 2.
The Rings of Power season 2 solid
The Rings of Power’s major characters are all slated to return. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) This is who we count on to see return, primarily based on season 1’s ending:
Charlie Vickers as Sauron
Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
Robert Aramayo as Elrond
Benjamin Walker as Excessive King Gil-galad
Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor
Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir
Nazain Boniadi as Bronwyn
Tyrone Muhafidin as Theo
Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel
Lloyd Owen as Elendil
Maxim Baldry as Isildur
Ema Horvath as Eärien
Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
Leon Wadham as Kemen
Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV
Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa
Markella Kavenagh as Eleanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot
Dylan Smith as Largo Brandyfoot
Sara Zwangobani as Marigold Brandyfoot
Megan Richards and Poppy Proudfellow
Joseph Mawle as Adar
Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
The largest information is Charlie Vickers’ Halbrand is Sauron, aka the Darkish Lord and forger of the One Ring. As revealed in the season 1 finale, Halbrand was merely an alias for Morgoth’s apprentice. Every time we see Vickers from season 2 onwards, he’ll be portraying The Lord of the Rings’ iconic antagonist.
In the meantime, Lenny Henry’s Sadoc Burrows and The Mystics will not be again. Sadoc died within the present’s eighth episode after he was fatally injured throughout a battle between The Stranger, the Harfoots, and The Mystics, the latter of whom have been destroyed by The Stranger throughout the identical combat.
Supporting characters are additionally prone to return. Alex Tarrant’s Valandil, Geoff Morrell’s Waldreg, Peter Mullan as King Durin III, Maxine Cunliffe as Vilma, and Thusitha Jayasundera as Malva are the present’s 5 major supporting solid members, so we suspect they’re going to be again. Vilma and Malva’s appearances, although, are depending on whether or not we see the Harfoot neighbourhood once more (extra on this later).
Potential spoilers comply with The Rings of Power season 2’s solid. Skip to the following part if you happen to avoid spoilers.
One character already confirmed to seem in The Rings of Power season 2 is Cirdan the Shipwright. In Tolkien’s supply materials, Cirdan was Lord of the Falathrim in Center-earth’s First Age and owned one of many titular rings – Narya – earlier than he handed it to Gandalf. Talking to Time magazine earlier than season 1’s launch, Payne stated: “Within the time of our story, he’s the oldest of all recognized elves in Center-earth. In reality, he lived so long, he had a beard.”
Cirdan is not the one elf who might be characteristic. In episode 7, Galadriel opens as much as Theo about Celeborn, the elf she’s wedded to however who she hasn’t seen for a very long time. Galadriel presumes he is useless however, as Tolkien followers know, Celeborn is alive within the Third Age. The duo ultimately reunite earlier than they make the town of Lothlórien their everlasting residence.
Talking at a preview screening occasion for episodes 6 and seven, which we attended, Payne and McKay refused to substantiate Celeborn will seem. Nevertheless, McKay teased: “We all know there are issues that the 2 of them do collectively when it comes to progeny that they may difficulty, realms they may discover, all types of issues. So it might be very exhausting to imagine that she would by no means see him once more. However, let’s see.”
Elsewhere, Charles Edwards, who performs Celebrimbor, desires to see a deep-cut dwarf character make their live-action debut in The Rings of Power season 2. Lastly, with the primary Rings of Power being crafted in episode 8, we might see the opposite 17 solid in season 2. If that occurs, we might see characters like Khamûl the Easterling – one of many 9 Ringwraiths – make their live-action debut.
The Rings of Power season 2 plot
The Rings of Power season 2 has loads of plot threads to handle. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) Full spoilers comply with The Rings of Power’s first season.
Little is thought about The Rings of Power season 2 plot. Nevertheless, primarily based on what the collection solid and crew have informed us, plus what happens within the season 1 finale and in Tolkien’s works, we can speculate on what’s going to occur.
Essentially the most urgent questions revolve around Sauron and the titular rings. Earlier than the season 1 finale aired, among the present’s solid, together with Clark and Edwards, already knew Vickers was taking part in Sauron. Others, although, weren’t conscious till a lot later in manufacturing. Now that Halbrand has been revealed as Sauron – Vickers informed us he did not know he was taking part in Sauron till filming the third episode – Center-earth’s most notable villain is certain to take middle stage in season 2 and past.
For starters, he arrived in Mordor with the view to creating his base of operations. Given Adar and his followers already inhabit this realm, it’s going to be fascinating to see if Sauron works with Adar, or bumps him off and takes Adar’s orc military as his personal. The duo briefly clashed, verbally and bodily, in episode 6, so seeing them reunite in The Rings of Power season 2 would make for compelling viewing. Vickers informed us that he’d be excited to discover the pair’s frosty relationship additional, including: “I love that dynamic. These characters have a protracted historical past, so I might be eager to discover that additional and even construct on it.”
May Galadriel and Sauron cross paths once more? (Picture credit score: Prime Video) And what of Sauron doubtlessly assembly Galadriel once more? The duo shared a detailed bond earlier than Halbrand revealed his true identity to the highly effective elf, solely to be rebuffed in his advances to make her the queen to his tyrannical overlord.
“I’ve all the time been obsessive about the mirror of Galadriel bit from The Lord of the Rings movies,” Clark informed us. “She will be able to let go till she’s rejected this utterly as a result of her feeling temptation in that. However solely the tiniest quantity due to how dreadful she is aware of it might be. So it might be fascinating to see how she’d deal with a reunion.”
“I feel the crux of their relationship is there is no peace in being alone,” Vickers added. “Sauron ultimately believes his peace will solely come as a king and Galadriel is the one who’s drawn that again out of him in season one. You possibly can view him as being repentant or manipulating her in that sense. He is aware of she’s extremely helpful and may get him to fulfil the suitable individuals and be in the suitable circles to make these connections. Now that he is deceived her, and now that she’s not informed the elves about him, it might be fascinating to see how they’d react to one another if they met once more.”
Elrond and Galadriel’s friendship goes to be examined once more in season 2. (Picture credit score: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video) Not telling the elves about Halbrand’s true type is certain to trigger large issues. Elrond already is aware of Galadriel hasn’t been sincere with him as he discovered the scroll, containing the Southlands’ royal lineage, that she’d used to work out Halbrand wasn’t who he stated he was.
Chatting to TheTechnicalBuddy, Clark believes Galadriel’s determination to not inform Elrond and the firm about Sauron goes out to be a giant mistake. “I do not assume she’s going to essentially really feel she made the suitable determination,” Clark stated. “The elves will get issues fallacious and there are penalties to that. This can be a huge one and I feel Galadriel will notice she’s made a reckless and harmful error.”
As for what she’s most wanting ahead to explore from Galadriel’s season 2 arc, Clark stated: “Spending extra time with the elves, no matter state these relationships are in, and simply coming again to Galadriel’s elvish-ness. We all know she’s going to turn out to be reclusive and secretive, and beginning to flip into the Woman of Lothlórien. I am excited to see what makes her resolve to again away from what we have seen her throw herself into.”
The primary three Rings of Power have been created. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) As for the rings, the primary three have been solid by the elves in episode 8, with the fallout from their crafting (and whether or not they’ll save the elves) set to be a key narrative in early season 2 episodes. However, there are one other 17 to be created, together with the One Ring. Will we see the Darkish Lord craft his ring in subsequent outings? Talking to us, Vickers would not say, however, he teased that Sauron “has a plan”. Take that as a sure, then.
What of the opposite 16 rings? We all know that seven shall be solid for the dwarf lords, whereas the opposite 9 are gifted to the kings of males, with the latter race’s leaders happening to turn out to be the Witch King and the Nazgûl, aka the Ringwraiths. It is unlikely we’ll see Sauron’s most trusted lieutenants take their ghostly kinds in season 2, however, we might be shocked if none of them seems of their humankind in the subsequent seasons.
Relating to their creation, Tolkien’s supply materials reveal the rings for the dwarves and males have been created alongside the elven ones. As episode Eight revealed, although, this may not occur in The Rings of Power, which has performed fairly unfastened with a few of Tolkien’s lore in season 1, a lot to some followers’ anger.
These rings will be crafted by Sauron himself if he hopes to enslave the dwarves and males, so do not count on him to ask Celebrimbor for his assistance in their forging. Until Sauron disguises himself as Annatar, as he does in Tolkien’s works, and tips Celebrimbor into fashioning the opposite rings, too. We expect it might be bizarre if Celebrimbor is deceived once more, although, therefore why Sauron will create them on his personal. Talking of Celebrimbor, Edwards completely informed us that he’ll be on a “post-performance stoop” following the rings’ creation, so he may not be up for the job of constructing extra anyway.
The Stranger was revealed to be an Istari, aka one of many wizards. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) Shifting away from Sauron and the rings, the opposite huge query surrounds The Stranger – and the place he is going with Nori.
In episode 8, we realized that The Stranger was one of many Istari, aka one of many 5 wizards despatched to Center-earth by the Valar (Center-earth’s gods, primarily) to assist its races within the combat in opposition to Sauron. Funnily sufficient, not one of the solid discovered that The Stranger was a wizard till the ultimate throes of filming.
Anyway, whereas we all know the kind of being that The Stranger is, we do not know which wizard he’s. The primary season’s remaining episode teased which one he’s, however that could be a misdirect.
Learn our Rings of Power season 1 recaps
Nonetheless, The Stranger and Nori are heading off to Rhûn in Center-earth’s far jap areas to seek out a) what his identity is, b) extra about his previous, and c) methods to channel his powers correctly. Will they run into Khamûl or the 2 Blue Wizards (offering The Stranger is not considered one of that duo), whose historical past continues to be a thriller to Tolkien followers? This is hoping.
There are many subplots and different storylines that The Rings of Power season 2 want to choose up.
For one, the destiny of the Southlanders. The present’s seventh episode confirmed that the Southlands is the area that turns into Mordor after episode 6’s explosive ending. In episode 7, Bronwyn additionally revealed that the remaining Southlanders would resettle in Pelargir, a metropolis on the banks of the river Anduin that turns into Gondor’s major port within the Third Age.
The Southlanders will resettle in Pelargir within the present’s second season. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) It is unlikely that The Rings of Power’s first season will mark the tip of the Southlanders’ time within the present. Moreover, within the supply materials, Pelargir turns into a haven for the Trustworthy – Númenóreans who’re pleased with the elves – in the course of the island kingdom’s ethical decline within the Second Age. If occasions play out as they do in Tolkien’s works, we’ll see Elendil and firm reunite with Arondir, Bronwyn, and Theo in a future season, if not season 2.
As for the Harfoots (minus Nori), we should always unite with them once more, too. Some viewers may assume we have seen the final of them, with the Harfoot neighbourhood, together with Poppy and the remainder of the Brandyfoot household, heading in a distinct path to The Stranger and Nori. Nevertheless, talking throughout a Q&A after a press screening for episode 8, which we attended, co-showrunner Patrick McKay confirmed we’ll be reunited with the Harfoots sooner or later and even teased their involvement in the founding of Hobbiton.
The Harfoots are positive to be again at some stage. (Picture credit score: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video) In the meantime, Markella Kavenagh, who performs Nori, completely informed us: “I’d like to reunite with the household. The complete neighbourhood is so great to work with. To me, will probably be so tough to think about that they would not [be back] however we’ll simply need to see what occurs actually.”
Over in Khazad-dûm, we’ll want a decision on the breakdown of the relationship between King Durin III and Prince Durin IV. The previous stripped his son of his titles in the course of the fallout over the mining of mithril, and the way its use might’ve saved the elves from extinction. With Princess Disa galvanizing Durin IV in a Woman Macbeth-style method, might we see a civil conflict erupt inside the superb dwarven kingdom? Or will father and son make up? That’ll rely on whether or not the elven rings are profitable in permitting the elves to retain immortality or not, in our view.
Khazad-dûm is not a cheerful place proper now. (Picture credit score: Amazon Studios) If we needed to guess, we expect it’s going to be the latter. That is primarily based on King Durin sending a military of dwarven warriors, in Tolkien’s supply materials, to attempt to save Eregion from destruction at Sauron’s fingers in the course of the Struggle between the Elves and Sauron.
The 2 During might want to set their variations apart, too, primarily based on the emergence of a Balrog – aka Durin’s Bane – within the remaining moments of episode 7. As requested by us if we’ll see Durin’s Bane once more quickly, McKay merely teased: “Season 2, sir. Keep tuned.”
Then there’s the sizeable political and monarch-based upheaval that Númenor is about to be with. King Palantir is useless, which means Queen Regent Míriel must be topped the island realm’s subsequent ruler. With Míriel now blind following the fallout from episodes 6 and seven, although, and primarily based on what we all know of Númenor’s historical past within the literature, Pharazôn will make a play for the throne. That, alongside Sauron’s potential return to Númenor – we do not understand how McKay and Payne will sort out this part of the Númenorean historical past of their collection – will in the result in the dominion’s downfall.
That is all earlier than we contemplate story arcs for Númenor’s favourite dysfunctional household, i.e. Elendil, Isildur, and Eärien, too. The previous shall be wrestling with grieving for his son – though, we all know Isildur is alive, given the position he performs in Sauron’s defeat within the Second Age – and finishing up his Númenorean duties. In the meantime, Eärien found the palantír in the season 1 finale. Will she use it to see into Númenor’s future? Her determination to take action or not might have huge implications for the dominion, herself, and her household.
Lastly, followers shall be relieved to listen to The Rings of Power season 2 and will comply with Tolkien’s supplies far more carefully. Co-showrunner J.D. Payne informed The Hollywood Reporter: “Season two has a canonical story. There could be viewers who’re like, ‘That is the story we have been hoping to get in season one!’ In season two, we’re giving it to them.”
The Rings of Power season 2 trailer: is there one?
The place is The Rings of Power season 2 trailer? (Picture credit score: Prime Video) No, and there will not be a trailer for a lengthy time. As soon as one is launched, we’ll replace this part.
Will The Rings of Power get extra seasons?
The Rings of Power is billed as a five-season present. (Picture credit score: Prime Video) Sure, you’ll be able to guess that The Rings of Power season 2 will not be the final instalment.
Payne and McKay have frequently acknowledged that they’ve deliberated for a five-season collection. They’ve already mapped it out in its entirety and, chatting with Empire magazine the pair confirmed they knew how the present would finish, together with its remaining shot.
To this point, Amazon has solely greenlit two, however, we might be amazed if the multinational company does not renew its Lord of the Rings present for the opposite three. Nevertheless, Embrace Group’s acquisition of The Lord of the Rings IP could muddy the waters considerably, with government producer Lindsey Weber not sure of how that deal will impression the collection shifting ahead. This is hoping not by a lot.
The Rings of power reached the primary spot in Nielsen’s TV rankings in late September, with the collection amassing 1. three billion minutes considered (per Variety) worldwide. The present’s two-episode premiere was additionally streamed by 25 million viewers in its first 24 hours, making it the most-watched Prime Video show ever. Regardless of the criticism levelled at it by some sections of the Tolkien fanbase, that is not unhealthy going.
With the collection’s creators all-in on their live-action adaptation, plus its vital share of the worldwide TV viewers throughout its season 1 run, we might be extraordinarily shocked if The Rings of Power season 2 finally ends up being its remaining entry. Even so, we’ll look forward to official affirmation from Amazon earlier than leaping to conclusions.
