The Rings of Power season 2 release date, trailer, plot details, news
When will The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power return to Prime Video?
The first three episodes of The Rings of Power season 2 are about to release, finally picking up after the end of season 1 saw the return of Sauron (Charlie Vickers).
Not only is this season set to introduce new characters including Tom Bombadil (played by Rory Kinnear), who was cut from Peter Jackson's movies, and the elf Círdan (Ben Daniels), but it will also feature more action than the show's first run.
It has been confirmed that season 2 will include Siege of Eregion, which has been described as "the most ambitious battle in TV history".
We'll also meet Sauron in another form this season, as he becomes Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, in order to manipulate Charles Edwards's Celebrimbor. Meanwhile, Ciarán Hinds has also joined the cast as a new character known only, at this point, as "Dark Wizard", who was behind the travellers who were seeking out The Stranger at the end of season 1.
Speaking of The Stranger, it's now been confirmed that we'll finally find out his identity, confirming once and for all if he is actually Gandalf the Grey.
But for now, read on for everything you need to know about The Rings of Power's upcoming second season. Alternatively, remind yourself of just what happened in season 1 with our full recap.
The Rings of Power season 2 release date
Prime Video has confirmed that The Rings of Power season 2 will launch on Thursday 29th August 2024.
Even better – three episodes of the series will be released at once. Episodes will then release weekly on Thursdays on Prime Video.
The show scored an early season 2 renewal, with a second season confirmed back in 2019, which hardly came as a surprise.
Based on the Lord of the Rings books (sort of) and set long before the events of the original film trilogy, season 1 became "one of the top original series for Prime Video, viewed by more than 100 million people worldwide, and driving more Prime sign-ups worldwide during its launch window than any other previous content to date", the streamer confirmed in a statement.
What is the plot of The Rings of Power season 2?
In a press release announcing the season 2 trailer, Prime Video teased what's to come.
"Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will," it read.
The statement also said that the new season would plunge "even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity".
Previously speaking to RadioTimes.com, showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay elaborated, confirming that Sauron's manipulation of Celebrimbor will be at the heart of the story, and explaining: "Season 1 was all about bringing audiences back to Middle-earth in this very different era of its history, all of these peoples, all of these races, all of these characters and then getting the story started.
"This season, we're able to start with a bang. Now that we've set the table, we can play and we're leading right into one of these major pieces of literature from the lore, which is the story of the creation of the Rings of Power, Sauron's rise, his deception of the Elven Smiths of Eregion, led by Celebrimbor, the Elven Da Vinci - that is the core of this season.
"It is Middle Earth entering the nuclear age, and how these new powers are going to affect everyone who carries them, every being and nation that's in control of them, and how that's going to change the world at large. So this is a time when we're really feasting on Tolkien."
Plus, there are multiple plot threads to continue in the second season of The Rings of Power. Firstly, the threat of Sauron remains, as does that of Adar and his Orcs in Mordor.
The future stability and existence of Nùmenor also remain a key issue, as does The Stranger’s quest to Rhûn with Nori Brandyfoot by his side. The future of Elves, Dwarves and Harfoots are all of vital importance too.
We also know that this season will include a definitive battle in JRR Tolkien’s history of the Second Age of Middle-earth, the Siege of Eregion, which McKay has said is "high in the running for the most ambitious battles in TV, period".
How many episodes will The Rings of Power season 2 consist of?
There will be eight episodes in The Rings of Power season 2.
The Rings of Power season 2 trailer
You can watch the latest trailer, released at San Diego Comic Con, below:
The Rings of Power season 2 will launch on Prime Video on 29th August – you can sign up now for a free 30-day Prime Video trial.
If you’re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our dedicated Fantasy hub. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
