Amazon Prime Video triumphantly returned to Middle-earth in 2024 with season 2 ofThe Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, and now their epic J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation has scored a third season. Set long before the events ofThe Lord of the Rings,Rings of Powerchronicles the Second Age of Middle-earth history and centers on the various kingdoms attempting to stave off the rising evil that will eventually lead to their downfall. Separate from Peter Jackson’s legendary trilogy of films (and hisHobbittrilogy as well),Rings of Poweroffers a fresh take on Middle-earth.
Season 1 ofRings of Powerwas a taste of what was to come asthe true identity of Sauronwas revealed, and the forging of the rings began. This set the stage for an even larger sophomore outing, but the show’s development languished for more than two years as it faced a myriad of delays. Finally, season 2 arrived in late-summer 2024, and maintained a positive critical reception, even if audience reaction was still mixed (viaRotten Tomatoes). The franchise’s ratings potential makes season 3 an obvious choice, and development is already underway onRings of Powerseason 3.
Quick Links
The Rings Of Power Has Already Set Up Amazon’s Season 3 With One Big Tolkien Reference
Amazon Prime Video’s The Rings of Power has already set up its later seasons with key foreshadowing, hinting at major events from Tolkien’s writing.
Rings Of Power Season 3 Latest News
New Cast Members Join Season 3
Not long after the show scored an official season 3 renewal, the latest news confirms severalnew cast members have joinedRings of Power. Further fleshing out the already massive ensemble,Stranger Thingsstar Jamie Campbell Bower is set to play a “handsome high-born knight,“and Bower’s character is speculated to be a love interest for Galadriel. Meanwhile,Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan) will play an as-yet-unknown character who has a brother. Little is known about either character, but Bower will become a series regular while Marsan is part of the recurring cast.
Rings Of Power Season 3 Is Confirmed
Prime Video Officially Renewed The Show In February 2025
Rings of Powerseason 3 was officially confirmed by the showrunners in late 2024, which was something of a relief, as there were concerns about the future of the show. Initially, an announcement on the third season was expected by October, so when that didn’t materialize, fears that the series could be canceled intensified. Despite the fact that season 2, like season 1, received positive reviews, viewership plummeted between seasons (from 150 million to 55 million).
ThoughRings of Powerwill be on shaky ground until the show’s numbers improve, there will be at least one more outing for the denizens of Middle-earth.
Fortunately,Prime Video eventually also confirmed season 3’s development (in February 2025), putting all fears of cancelation to bed for now. ThoughRings of Powerwill be on shaky ground until the show’s numbers improve, there will be at least one more outing for the denizens of Middle-earth.
Rings of Powerseason 2 debuted on August 24, 2025 and concluded on October 3.
Rings Of Power Season 3 Cast Details
Who Will Return In Season 3?
Though not as blood-soaked as contemporaries likeHouse of the Dragon, some ofthe beloved characters ofRings of Powerdidn’t survive season 2. On the other hand, there are a few characters who will likely be returning, including Morfydd Clarke as Galadriel, as she is essentially the main character of the series. Since Isildur’s fate is already known (thanks to the events ofThe Lord of the Rings), Maxim Baldry is a shoo-in to reprise as well.
The premiere episodes of season 2 have already removed a few names from the potential season 3 ensemble, including Waldreg (Geoff Morrell) who was betrayed by Sauron. The death of Bronwyn was telegraphed by the departure of actor Nazanin Boniadi, but season 2 finally confirmed she succumbed to her wounds. The cast of season 3 has grown with the addition ofJamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things) in an as-yet-unknown series regular role. Meanwhile. Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan) has also joined the cast.
A Time Jump To The War Of The Elves & Sauron
Since it’s a prequel, several key events will need to take place to fulfill future storylines, though season 3 likely won’t be where Sauron’s rise reaches its dastardly peak. Having gained possession of the Nine Rings of Men,Sauron can now begin manipulating the leaders of Men in order to do his bidding. This will eventually lead tothe Nine Men becoming his Ring Wraithsand the forging of the One Ring. Though all the details aren’t known yet, it has been confirmed that season 3 will take place during the War of the Elves and Sauron.
The logline for season 3 reads:
Jumping forward several years from the events of season 2, season 3 takes place at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to craft the One Ring that will give him the edge he needs to win the war and conquer all Middle-earth at last.
As mentioned in the logline, this will require a small time jump. However, this might be just whatRings of Powerseason 3 needs to remain fresh and interesting. By fast-forwarding through some of the events that lead up to the war, the series can get to the exciting action without totally abandoning the minute details of Tolkien lore. The crafting of the One Ring is the biggest turning point during this era of Middle-earth history, and will also be a similar climax in the show.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
