Will there be a Rings of Power season 3? Latest news and speculation
Will we be returning to Middle-earth once more?
It's been a long wait, but The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is officially back on our screens two years after it first landed.
Set in JRR Tolkien's Middle-earth, the epic fantasy series faced much criticism in the wake of its initial release, with many particularly disappointed in the depiction of Sauron.
Season 2 has proven to be an improvement, with the villain adopting a brand new form and new additions to the sprawling cast, including Ciarán Hinds as the Dark Wizard and Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil, making their mark.
There have also been surprises, including a resurrection and the reveal of the Stranger's much-discussed identity.
But what's in store for the sprawling Rings of Power cast beyond this instalment?
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Here's everything we know so far about a potential Rings of Power season 3!
Will there be The Rings of Power season 3?
A third season of The Rings of Power has not yet been officially confirmed - however, it does seem highly likely that it's a matter of 'when', not 'if' the show is renewed.
It was reported in February that while a third season hadn’t officially been ordered and a writers room had not opened, the showrunners had already started to break the initial story outline.
When asked about any confirmation for season 3 in August 2024, at the season 2 premiere, one of the series's showrunners Patrick McKay said: "All we can say is, we’re working on it. We’re cooking. Let us cook!"
This certainly tracks with what was said when the first season of the show was being released. At that time,McKay's co-showrunner JD Payne told Empire that the show was intended to last for five seasons.
He said: "We even know what our final shot of the last episode is going to be. The rights that Amazon bought were for a 50-hour show. They knew from the beginning that was the size of the canvas – this was a big story with a clear beginning, middle and end. There are things in the first season that don’t pay off until season five."
More recently, Payne told RadioTimes.com of the five-season plan and the show's pacing: "In some ways it was a plan from the very, very beginning. The earliest days we were talking about this project and this property and where we thought there was a story that demanded to be told.
"What's great about this era of Middle-earth's history is that there are these incredible tentpole events. They're laid out in the appendices in the books. We fashioned the show so that each season would would, you know, be built around a couple of these major tentpole moments... And you have to stay tuned to see what we do next time."
We will update this page if and when we get official confirmation of a third season of The Rings of Power.
When could a potential The Rings of Power season 3 be released?
We don't yet know when a third season of The Rings of Power would debut, as the series hasn't been officially renewed yet. However, we can employ some educated guesswork.
We would guess that season 3 would arrive around August or September 2026 - although we will, of course, keep this page updated if we hear anything different.
The second season is arriving almost exactly two years after the first, and given the show's hefty budget, extensive VFX work and dramatic production values, it seems unlikely the team would be able to get another season out much quicker than that.
Who would be in The Rings of Power season 3 cast?
With season 2 just kicking off, and a long way to go until its finale, it's difficult to say who from the cast would be back for season 3, though there are certain characters which seem very likely to return - such as Charlie Vickers as Sauron and Morfydd Clark as Galadriel.
Here are some of the central cast members from The Rings of Power season 2, who could return for a third season:
- Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
- Charlie Vickers as Sauron
- Markella Kavenagh as Elanor 'Nori' Brandyfoot
- Robert Aramayo as Elrond
- Benjamin Walker as High King Gil-galad
- Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir
- Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo
- Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor
- Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
- Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV
- Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa
- Peter Mullan as King Durin III
- Lloyd Owen as Elendil
- Bridie Sisson as The Dweller
- Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel
- Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
- Maxim Baldry as Isildur
- Ema Horvath as Eärien
- Geoff Morrell as Waldreg
- Leon Wadham as Kemen
- Alex Tarrant as Valandil
- Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil
- Amelia Kenworthy as Mirdania
- Calam Lynch as Camnir
- Kevin Eldon as Narvi
- Selina Lo as Rían
- Sam Hazeldine as Adar
- Ben Daniels as Círdan
- Ciaran Hinds as the Dark Wizard
- Nia Towle as Estrid
There are various characters we wouldn't expect back for future seasons, including Sadoc Burrows, played by Lenny Henry in season 1, who tragically met his demise.
Despite Nazanin Boniadi's Bronwyn making it out of season 1 alive, the beginning episodes of season 2 revealed that she died off-screen between seasons. That's because Boniadi exited the show after season 1 for personal reasons.
We also won't rule out some further recasts. The character of Adar was previously played by Joseph Mawle, with Sam Hazeldine taking over for season 2. While no recasts have been announced, it's clearly a possibility in The Rings of Power.
Is there a trailer for a potential The Rings of Power season 3?
There isn't a trailer available for a potential Rings of Power season 3 just yet, but we'll keep this page updated once any new footage is released. In the meantime you can rewatch the season 2 trailer right here now.
How many seasons are planned for The Rings of Power?
When the deal between Amazon Studios and co-showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay was made, it was confirmed they were planning for five seasons.
"We’re building infrastructure for five seasons. We’re building a small city. We were always going to spend what we needed to spend to get it right," Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke recently told Variety.
She added: "I’m fortunate to be working at this company where we want to be financially disciplined, but nobody wanted to compromise on what this would be visually.
"I think it was all money really well spent. If you look at how people are reacting to the visual experience of the show, that’s been overwhelmingly positive."
Of course, that doesn't mean that five seasons are officially confirmed, only planned.
The Rings of Power season 2 launched 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.
