Fans are desperate to know when The Rings of Power season 2 will be coming to Prime Video after The Rings of Power season 1 ended with a host of bombshells.
With Sauron finally unmasked, Gandalf revealed, the rings of power forged and trouble brewing deep beneath Khazad-dûm, showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne have plenty of plots to address — and we can't wait.
Here's everything we know about the hotly-anticipated follow-up series...
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 release date
Production on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 began in the UK in October 2022, and The Hollywood Reporter reported in late February that filming has ended, and season 2 is on track to release in 2024.
In a 2022 interview, Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke told Variety that producers don't want to rush things... "We want the shortest time possible between seasons, but we want to keep the bar just as high," she said. "So it'll take what it takes but there's been some urgency around moving quickly, which is why these guys have been writing all through their hiatus. We're moving fast."
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 plot
There's plenty for showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne to get their teeth into in season 2 however the creation of the other rings of power looks set to be a central theme...
At a press event McKay said: "'Why would Elves need rings? Why would they want rings? Why would this guy have an offer that would be tempting for them?' is very much what the entire first season is sort of building to.
"The first conversations about the show revolved around the idea of Galadriel on one journey, looking for a military solution to the darkness in Middle-earth, and Elrond on another journey going to Moria and trying to make an alliance that would be a solution to Middle-earth. And then, in the end, they would both fail and come together and someone would be there to say, 'I know a third way.' And so, the first season is about the Elven rings.
"The second season is very much about more rings. The song at the end of season 1 by Fiona Apple - which is like crazy dream come true - suggests there's Three, then there's Seven. Why would the Dwarves be desperate for rings? And how do they get seduced? And how do they get fooled? And then Men is an even more complex story.
"There are Nine leaders of Men who want power, and so each of those rings and the forging of them is not just like, 'Now the magic thing got made', but a story to be told. And I think there are other stories to be told as well, but certainly, we've kicked it off and next season is gonna go deeper into it."
*Will the Nazgul be in The Rings of Power season 2? Everything we know*
Another storyline that's sure to capture the imagination of fans is Nori and The Stranger's journey to Rhûn to discover his true identity.
We're pretty certain he's Gandalf, but the plot is sure to throw light on lots of interesting aspects of Mithrandir's early time in Middle-Earth and we can't wait! For a start, the road to Rhûn will take the pair perilously close to Mordor, so we think an altercation with Sauron could well be on the cards.
Speaking of the Dark Lord, we learned that Halbrand was actually Sauron in the finale to season one, and we're desperate to hear more of his dark story. We think Adar and his Uruks, who are currently holed up in Mordor, might have a nasty surprise when he turns up, but will Sauron make the corrupted elf his servant?
After spending so much time talking about the threat of Sauron, Galadriel will be kicking herself at the thought of the Dark Lord being under her nose the whole time, and she'll be out to pay him back for his deception this time.
She, Celebrimbor and Elrond now have rings of power at their disposal, but we haven't seen the seven dwarf lords or the nine mortal men receive the rings described in the famous rhyme. We're desperate for a Ringwraiths origins story or two!
Meanwhile, below Khazad-dûm a Balrog has been awakened, which spells bad news for the dwarves. All in all, plenty to be getting on with!
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 cast — who will be returning?
We're expecting all our favorite Middle-Earth heroes — and villains — to return for the second season, not least Charlie Vickers, who'll be playing the newly-unmasked Sauron. We never trusted Halbrand anyway tbh.
Morfydd Clark is set to return as Galadriel, who'll be off on yet another hunt for the Dark Lord in season two. She managed to find him last time, she just didn't know it! Let's hope she has better luck as the story continues.
Given that elves live for thousands of years, we think it's a safe bet that Robert Aramayo will be back as Elrond, Benjamin Walker will return as High King Gil-galad, while Charles Edwards will reprise his role as Lord Celebrimbor.
Gil-galad was against the creation of Halbrand's rings of power at the end of series one, but Celebrimbor didn't listen and we wonder what role he'll play in trying to atone for that error next time.
We're also expecting to hear more about Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), his girlfriend Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) and her son Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin), while that rogue Waldreg (Geoff Morrell) could also be back.
With lots going on in Khazad-dûm, season two will pick up the stories of Prince Durin (Owain Arthur), his father King Durin III (Peter Mullan) and Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete). With a Balrog on the loose, they could be quite busy.
All the Numenoreans are sure to back, although it's the story of Isildur (Maxim Baldry) that we're most interested in. We know it's him who cuts the ring of power from Sauron's hand when the last alliance of men and elves march on Mount Doom, but he was the son of the king when that happens, so how do he and his father Elendil (Peter McKenzie) rise to power in Numenor?
Markella Kavenagh will almost certainly be back as Nori and while she's been separated from the rest of her kin, we expect the Harfoots to make a return, although poor old Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry) won't be there (sob). And last but certainly not least, we'd put our bottom dollar on Daniel Weyman reprising his role as Gandalf — sorry, The Stranger.
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 new cast
On December 1, Amazon announced a slew of new actors who are joining the cast, though their roles haven't been confirmed just yet. They are: Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen 'Zates' Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle and Nicholas Woodeson.
The only star whose role we know is Sam Hazeldine's, as he's taking over from Joseph Mawle as the Orc leader, Adar. In a statement posted to Twitter, Mawle wrote: "I loved my time exploring middle earth and diving into Tolkien’s mythology. I’m so honoured that the character was liked. He cared deeply about telling you his story. Though as an actor it remains my wish, my job description to explore new characters and worlds. Wishing all the best to cast and crew for S2, I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines".
According to The Hollywood Reporter Círdan, one of the oldest elves in Middle-earth is set to join season two in a role that wasn't cast at the time of their report. Could he be one of the new actors listed above?
I loved my time exploring middle earth and diving into Tolkien’s mythology. I’m so honoured that the character was liked. He cared deeply about telling you his story. Though as an actor it remains my wish, my job description to explore new characters and worlds. Wishing all theDecember 1, 2022
Amazon followed the above announcement up just days later by revealing even more stars for season 2 on December 7.
Joining the cast are Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo and Calam Lynch. As with the other new arrivals, we don't know who any of them are playing just yet, or even whether they'll be fellow elves, harfoots or heading to Numenor.
Update, March 20: three new additions to the cast have been announced for Rings of Power season 2, and they are some pretty big names. Oscar-nominated Ciarán Hinds (Belfast), Rory Kinnear (Men) and Tanya Moodie (Motherland) have all been announced as joining the cast, though their roles were not revealed.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 trailer
There's no trailer for this one yet, but as soon as one arrives we'll be sure to post it here.
Will there be a third season of The Rings of Power?
It sounds like it! In that February 2024 Hollywood Reporter article confirming Amazon's hopes for season 2 to air in 2024, there was some discussion about The Rings of Power's future.
Showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne have struck a new overall three-year deal with Amazon MGM Studios. A third season hasn't officially been ordered at the time of writing, but the showrunners are apparently working on the setting out the initial story outline for the series, should it get the go-ahead.
Of the deal, Vernon Sanders (head of television at Amazon MGM) said: "We began this remarkable journey with JD and Patrick more than five and a half years ago and have never looked back.
"We continue to be amazed by the scope and scale of their vision and the enormous global success achieved by The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in its record-breaking first season. We can't wait for Prime Video customers to experience the epic adventure and high-stakes drama that JD and Patrick are continuing to build throughout season two and beyond.
"Naturally, the studio is thrilled to extend our overall deal with these brilliant creative minds as they continue to deliver on their passion for great storytelling", Sanders added.
