Get ready to return to the world of Middle-earth. A new series from Amazon Studios will go into the world’s past. Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power serves as a prequel to the events we all know from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The books take place in Middle-earth’s Third Age. The Rings of Power will unfold in the Second Age. Here’s everything we know about The Lord of the Rings TV series so far.
Title
We learned the title for The Lord of the Rings TV series in January: The Rings of Power. Amazon’s really leaning into what people know about Middle-earth. The focus is on the titular rings in The Lord of the Rings.
The Rings of Power‘s Plot
As mentioned, the series takes place in the Second Age. We’ll see the forging of the 20 rings of power. That includes three for elves, seven for dwarves, nine for mortal men, and one for Sauron. So, we know we’ll see Sauron’s rise to power. The show will also feature the epic tale of Númenor and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.
Prime Video’s official synopsis for The Rings of Power follows:
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
Furthermore, several locations will figure prominently in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. We will see a lot of Númenor, an Atlantis-like island of men, as well as the Elven cities of Lindon and Eregion. Additionally, the show will show us the dwarven stronghold of Khazad-dûm in all its glory. Trailers for the show feature those regions, as well as a tease of Sauron. Doom looms on the horizon, but will Middle-earth take note in time?
Although things may become intense during Rings of Power, ultimately, the showrunners share, the show is for everyone. And at the heart, its message will be about overcoming great darkness. Our heroes will take center stage, especially in the first season. And that’s something we can all root for.
Behind the Scenes
Like The Lord of the Rings movies, The Rings of Power filmed in New Zealand. Although its second season plans to film in London.
Production began in 2020 for the series, which Amazon calls a “multi-season drama.” Amazon outbid Netflix to obtain rights to make the series for $250 million 2017. The deal included a five-season commitment, but Amazon has only formally renewed The Rings of Power for season two.
The series is led by showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. They are joined by executive producers Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado, and producers Ron Ames and Christopher Newman. Wayne Che Yip is co-executive producer and directs along with J.A. Bayona and Charlotte Brändström.
Deadline has also revealed that Oscar-winner Howard Shore—who composed the original LOTR trilogy—will return for The Rings of Power to compose its title theme. Additionally, Bear McCreary will be composing the series’ episodic score. The music of a world matters so this is most excellent news.
The Rings of Power‘s Cast
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has an extensive cast. We know several cast members and now we have some more information about who they will play. Morfydd Clark will play Galadriel. Charlie Vickers will play a new character called Halbrand. Charles Edwards will play Celebrimor. Sophia Nomvete will play Princess Disa, a dwarven princess. Owain Arthur will play Prince Durin IV. Ismael Cruz Córdova will play silvan elf, Arondir. Nazanin Boniadi will play Bronwyn, Arondir’s human love interest. Robert Aramayo will play Elrond. Maxim Baldry will play Isildur. Megan Richards and Markella Kavenagh will play harfoots. Benjamin Walker plays High King Gil-galad, Daniel Weyman portrays The Stranger, and Markella Kavenagh is Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot.
The additional originally announced cast includes Joseph Mawle, Ema Horvath, Tyroe Muhafidin, Dylan Smith, and Daniel Weyman. In December, a press release further additions shared the following actors would join Ring of Powers: Peter Mullan, Sir Lenny Henry, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Benjamin Walker, Geoff Morrell, Kip Chapman, Thusitha Jayasundera, Maxine Cunliffe, Trystan Gravelle, Anthony Crum, Peter Tait, Fabian McCallum, Simon Merrells, Lloyd Owen, Augustus Prew, Alex Tarrant, Leon Wadham, Sara Zwangobani, Ian Blackburn, Will Fletcher, Amelie Child-Villiers, and Beau Cassidy.
Amazon released 23 different character posters. You can see the full line-up of new The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power character images here. And take a look at a few of our favorites below.
The Rings of Power‘s Release Date
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premieres on Amazon’s Prime Video with a unique release schedule. The Rings of Power‘s first two episodes will release at once around the world. They will launch on Thursday, September 1 at 6 p.m. PDT. This mean that the Lord of the Rings series will premiere on September 1 in the United States and at the corresponding time on September 2 everywhere else. Following the premiere, episodes will release on Thursdays at 9 p.m. PDT for the United States and at set times on Friday around the world. You can look at the full release scheduled for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, here.