Even during the WGA and SAG strikes, production on the show Rings of Power continues in full force. Hopefully, it can launch into 2024 as planned!
Amazon Prime Video recently unveiled another wave of cast additions – Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon Will Keen and Selina Lo – who will all play recurring roles.
| Character and Cast | Role/Description | Season 2 Updates |
|---|---|---|
| Adar (Sam Hazeldine) | Replacing Joseph Mawle from Season 1 | Continuation of Adar’s character with an increased role. |
| Ciaran Hinds | Recurring role from Season 1, role undisclosed | Return of Ciaran Hinds in a recurring role. |
| Rory Kinnear | Recurring role from Season 1, role undisclosed | Return of Rory Kinnear in a recurring role. |
| Oliver Alvin-Wilson | New cast member with a recurring role | Introduction of Oliver Alvin-Wilson in Season 2. |
| Stuart Bowman | New cast member with a recurring role | Introduction of Stuart Bowman in Season 2. |
| Gavi Singh Chera | New cast member with a recurring role | Introduction of Gavi Singh Chera in Season 2. |
| William Chubb | New cast member with a recurring role | Introduction of William Chubb in Season 2. |
| Kevin Eldon | New cast member with a recurring role | Introduction of Kevin Eldon in Season 2. |
| Selina Lo | New cast member with a recurring role | Introduction of Selina Lo in Season 2. |
| Charlotte Brandstrom | Director | Returning director for Season 2. |
| Louise Hooper | Director | Experienced director joining the team for Season 2. |
| Sanaa Hamri | Director | Another accomplished director helming Season 2 episodes. |
Cast
After the success of Rings of Power, fans are eager to witness what unfolds in season 2. This prequel series takes place thousands of years before Bilbo and Frodo embarked upon their adventures in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, taking 18 months for filming before premiering. Production on Season 2 may start sooner than expected given that production has apparently wrapped early – perhaps earlier than anticipated!
Amazon confirmed in March that Sam Hazeldine would replace Joseph Mawle as Adar and that Ciaran Hinds and Rory Kinnear would return in recurring roles, though their roles are yet to be identified in Season 4. Prime Video announced several new faces would join Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera William Chubb Kevin Eldon Will Keen Selina Lo and Calam Lynch who would appear throughout Season 4.
Charlotte Brandstrom, Sanaa Hamri and Louise Hooper will direct episodes for Season 2. As evidenced by their work during Season 1, these directors should prove more than capable of making the second season just as riveting as its predecessor. It will be interesting to observe how these new additions affect storyline and character dynamics.
Plot
While Season One ended on a cliffhanger, there are still loose plot threads to address in Season 2. This season will also address Sauron’s return to Mordor as well as reveal more information about The Stranger’s quest and identity, Galadriel’s role in his journey and more! Filming for Season 2 is expected to commence in October 2022 and air between 2024-2023; an exact release date has not been specified as of yet.
Production for Season Two will move to UK studio Bray Studios near London to cut production costs and make the series more accessible to European viewers; more space will also be provided for cast and crew.
Rings of Power showrunners have planned five seasons for fans, so fans can look forward to more adventures taking place in Middle-earth. However, due to writers and actors’ strikes taking place currently, this could delay its release further; similar strikes have delayed movies such as The Walking Dead and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as well.
Release date
Amazon Prime Video will host The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, expected to consist of eight episodes this time. It will explore numerous plot threads such as Sauron’s threat in Mordor, Numenor’s fate and The Stranger’s journey with Nori Brandyfoot. Key cast members should return; it remains unknown whether any Harfoot community members return. Joseph Mawle won’t reprise his role as Adar; Sam Hazeldine from Peaky Blinders will instead play his place with an increased role this time around.
No details have been released regarding Rings of Power Season 2, yet. However, we know it will explore J.R.R Tolkien’s Second Age tales such as Sauron’s conquest of Middle-earth and the creation of the One Ring; new characters including Cirdan the Shipwright and High King Gil-galad will make their appearance; Charlotte Brandstrom, Louise Hooper and Sanaa Hamri will take over director duties this time around.
Rings of Power’s first season took 18 months to film, while filming for its second season will likely go much quicker this time around, according to reports by Variety. According to their report, filming wrapped shortly before the SAG-AFTRA strike and could potentially premiere before 2024.
Where to watch
Rings of Power fans have been eagerly anticipating its second season since it ended with such an explosive cliffhanger in Season One. Set for eight episodes again, showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne have promised that Season 2 will be “bigger on every level – by an order of magnitude!” According to The Hollywood Reporter, they promise Season 2 will deliver on this promise and more!
Prime Video revealed on December 1 a few new additions to the cast for season six, such as Sam Hazeldine, Yasen Zates Atour, Nia Towle Gabriel Akuwudike Amelia Kenworthy Nicholas Woodeson as well as Ciaran Hinds Rory Kinnear Oliver Alvin-Wilson Stuart Bowman Gavi Singh Chera William Chubb Kevin Eldon Selina Lo.
Production for season two has begun in London’s Bray Studios – in contrast to season one which took place in New Zealand.
Director Charlotte Brandstrom will return for Season 2. Louise Hooper and Sanaa Hamri are also experienced directors who will helm episodes of this show, making their contributions invaluable.
