It was already clear before the start of Season 1 that “The Rings of Power” would continue. TECHBOOK collects all information and rumors about the continuation of the “Lord of the Rings” series on Amazon Prime Video.
Now that the first season of the “Lord of the Rings” series is history, there are many questions about the sequel. In fact, work has been going on since the beginning of October 2022. But what does that mean for the start of the new episodes? Which actors are returning to their roles and what unknown faces can we expect? And of course, how does the battle between Sauron and the Free Peoples of Middle-earth continue in The Rings of Power Season 2?
When is The Rings of Power season 2 out?
The sensational – and above all eventful – finale of the first “Rings of Power” season ran on October 14, 2022 on Amazon Prime Video. It was clear from the start that this would not be the end of the fantasy series. Since the rights to a clearly defined part of the Middle-earth cosmos alone cost Amazon 250 million US dollars, it was also clear before the official announcement of a multi-year concept that the company would get as much as possible out of its license. It is now known that Amazon is planning a total of five seasons. So Season 2 of The Rings of Power is far from over.
We also know that the new episodes have been filming since October 3rd, 2022! With a complex production like this, however, that doesn’t mean that we can expect a release every year, as is usual with other series. Showrunner Patrick McKay, on the other hand, is promising a start in 2024. Amazon will probably then aim for a rhythm similar to that of the first season with weekly episodes.
Filming no longer in New Zealand
Hardly any (real existing) country plays such a central role for “Lord of the Rings” fans as New Zealand. This is where the well-known films by Peter Jackson were filmed. For many, therefore, the New Zealand landscape is inextricably linked to an image of Middle-earth.
The 1st season of “The Rings of Power” was probably also shot in the island state for this reason, among other things. However, that is about to change in season 2. According to media reports, filming is currently taking place in Great Britain. There are probably two reasons for this. For one thing, a large part of the cast is from the UK. That would also simplify the shooting from the point of view that we are rolling into the next Corona winter. It’s also obviously a lot cheaper to shoot in the UK.
That’s what the continuation of the Lord of the Rings series is all about
In fact, based on Tolkien’s underlying works and the unanswered questions from season 1, one can already make some assumptions as to how “The Rings of Power” season 2 will continue.
Open questions from the first season
Warning, massive spoilers follow from here on the plot so far! In the season finale, villain Sauron finally revealed himself, and we can already look back on some important moments elsewhere. “The Rings of Power” Season 2 must therefore take up some open questions again.
The most important thing is likely to be how Galadriel deals with Halbrand, now that she has found out that he is actually her personal nemesis. As of now she is staying with him, Elrond and Celebrimbor in East-in-Edhil, there the action could also continue directly. Anyone who has dealt more closely with the book template knows the importance of the place and the battle that is still being fought there. However, it is unlikely that this will happen in season 2.
It will also be exciting to see if we finally get to know a character that is important to her in the series: your husband Celeborn. After conjecturing why the important character hadn’t appeared before, contrary to the books, the series finally provided the answer itself. So Galadriel thinks that her husband fell in battle against Sauron. However, it is unlikely that the series will actually do this – Celeborn is too important in the books for that. It is much more likely that he is somewhere in soil’s captivity.
Even if “Lord of the Rings” fans of course know that the young Isildur can’t be dead, of course the characters in the series don’t know that. But what’s next for him? It is very likely that he will be traveling alone with his faithful horse in the former southern lands for the time being. Maybe he’ll meet there Adar and his orcswhose story has certainly not yet been told to the end.
A popular story arc that also picked up steam towards the end of Season 1 was the one about the Dwarf Prince Durin. After the argument with his father, one can already guess that the conflict could escalate and end in a fight for the throne. His friendship with Elrond was an important part of the series so far and could be a key again in this conflict.
An important location in “The Rings of Power” season 2 should also be that again Island kingdom of Númenor be. As shown in the visions of the Palatír, this is doomed. The reason for this is called Ar-Pharazon and the season finale has already given a taste of the simmering conflicts between him and the Queen Regent.
How and whether it mind with Arondir, Bronwyn and Theo What will happen next is entirely uncertain as they do not appear in the books. However, the characters are very popular, so she and her attempt to start a new life could appear again in The Rings of Power.
And even if for many viewers the answer is about the identity of the “meteor man‘ seems to be certain, his journey should also become important in the second season. The stranger with the mysterious powers is now with me Nori and the other harfeet on the way to Rhûn. In this context, the three mystics will probably play an even greater role.
More Rings of Power
Of course, “Lord of the Rings” fans know that the three forged rings are far from over! In total, the Elf Celebrimbor forges 20 of them.
the three elf rings – Narya, Nenya and Vilya – now exist in the series. Her bearers are, in the books, Galadriel, Elrond, and Cídar, who later bequeaths his ring to the wizard Gandalf. Actually, these rings are forged last, so the series “The Rings of Power” deviates from the original in this respect. Of course, that could add fuel to the plot, as Galadriel and her personal development is a central character in the series.
seven rings then get the dwarves, one of them also the so-called Durins people. However, Sauron’s plan only partially works in this respect, since the dwarves are too tough to transform into Nazgûl. However, it is unlikely that these seven rings will appear in Season 2 of The Rings of Power.
All in all nine rings get the kings of men. These are all corrupted by the rings and later become the well-known Ringwraiths.
And of course the most important thing is that a ring, which Sauron himself forges in the flames of Mount Doom. It is through this ring that Sauron ultimately controls part of the other ring bearers and reads their minds.
The Cast of The Rings of Power Season 2
In season 1, the viewers were not only slowly introduced to the at least cinematically unknown Middle-earth of the 2nd age. We were also introduced to many characters, some of which we already know from the books, others were made up by the series creators. We will probably meet most of these characters again in “The Rings of Power” Season 2, since there have been few character deaths in Season 1 so far. These characters – and their actors – are what we expect to see in the sequel:
- Morfydd Clark as Galadriel – Elvish general
- Robert Aramayo as Elrond – Half-Elf
- Owain Arthur as Durin IV – dwarf prince
- Sophia Nomvete as Disa – dwarf princess and wife of Durin
- Markella Kavenagh as Eleanor “Nori” Brandyfoot – bright harp with a penchant for adventure
- Charlie Vickers as Halbrand/Sauron – “King of the Southlands”
- Joseph Mawle as Adar – “corrupt Elf”, hates Sauron
- Lloyd Owen as Elendil – Captain Númenors, father of Isildur and
- Maxim Baldry as Isildur – son of Elendil
- Emma Horvath as Eärien – Isildur’s sister, young member of the Builders’ Guild
- Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn – Village Healer, has an affair with Arondir, Theo’s mother
- Ishmael Cruz Cordova as Arondir – Elf, served in the Watch for 70 years, has affair with Bronwyn
- Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo – Bronwyn’s son
- Daniel Weyman as “The Stranger”/ “Meteor Man” – mysterious man with magical powers
- Cynthia Addai Robinson as Miriel – Numénor’s Queen Regent
- Trystan Gravelle as Ar-Pharazôn – Chancellor of Númenor, plotting against the Queen-Regent
- Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad – King of the Elves
- Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor – Ringsmith and Sauron’s involuntary assistant
- Will Fletcher as Finrod – Gladriel’s brother
- lenny henry as Harfuss Sadoc Burrows – Chief of the Harfuss
- Megan Richards as Harfuss Poppy Proudfellow – Nori’s best friend
- DylanSmith as Harfuss Largo Brandyfoot – Nori’s father
- Sara Zwangobani as Harfoot Marigold Brandyfoot
- Alex Tarrant as Valandil – best friend of Isildur
- Bridie Sisson as “The Dweller” – mystic with the power of shapeshifting, part of the mysterious trio
- Kali Kopae as “The Ascetic” – part of the mysterious trio
- Edith Poor as “The Nomad” – part of the mysterious trio
Important character to appear in season 2 for the first time
There will also be some new faces joining the cast of The Rings of Power. Amazon has also announced an important new role. We are talking about the oldest known elf, the shipbuilder Círdan. It is only logical that the wise elf lord will be part of the second season. Along with Galadriel and Elrond, he is one of the three Elvish Ringbearers. It is not yet known who will play Círdan, who by the way is one of Tolkien’s very few elves to wear a beard due to his age.
Sources
- The Hollywood Reporters (“‘The Rings of Power’ Showrunners Break Silence on Backlash, Sauron and Season 2” accessed 10/17/2022)
- Yahoo (Exclusive: This Fan-Favorite Character Is Joining the Second Season of The Rings of Power, accessed 10/21/2022)