Everything you need to know about The Rings of Power season 2 (original) (raw)
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- When will Rings of Power season 2 be out?
- Who is in the Rings of Power season 2 cast?
- Is Gandalf in Rings of Power season 2?
- What will happen in Rings of Power season 2?
Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power season two has given us a first-look teaser trailer as well as a confirmed release date – so fans are that little bit closer to seeing more of the hit Prime Video series.
In the latest news, we've discovered who Ben Daniels – previously cast in an unknown role for season two – will be playing. The former star of The Crown appears to be taking on Círdan the Shipwright, a popular character from the novels – and we've even had a first-look image (via EW).
Ben Rothstein / Prime Video
We don't have too long to wait for new episodes to arrive on Prime Video, with an August premiere previously announced. And the action will pick up from the first season's big cliffhanger ending which – spoiler alert! – revealed that Halbrand, as we'd come to know him, was actually Sauron.
Back for season two, and sure to be the major plot thread, the teaser footage unveiled actor Charlie Vickers as a different version of the maker of the One Ring, having been disguised as a man (the long-lost king of the Southlands, to be exact) in the first season.
Stream Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with Prime Video
Now he looks to be channelling an elf, complete with blonde tresses that Legolas himself would be proud of.
Sure enough, a voice soon underlines that Sauron "has been here among us all along", and there's an impending feeling of a growing evil in Middle-earth.
"Every soul in Middle-earth is in peril," the trailer warns – and it's about to get a whole lot darker if these clips are anything to go by.
Prime Video
When will Rings of Power season 2 be out?
The new season of Rings of Power will launch on Prime Video on August 29 , 2024.
It was hardly a surprise that the series was getting a second outing, considering Rings of Power's first season actually broke a record for Prime Video, marking its biggest-ever debut at that time.
The show has become one of the most successful originals for the streaming service and has been viewed by more than 100 million people worldwide.
But confirmation of season two's release isn't the only exciting news for fans, as the hit fantasy show may also have a future beyond that.
Rings of Power show creators Patrick McKay and JD Payne have reportedly started putting early ideas together for season three, though a third season is not yet official (according to The Hollywood Reporter).
Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement: "We continue to be amazed by the scope and scale of their vision and the enormous global success achieved by 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."
Prime Video
Who is in the Rings of Power season 2 cast?
LOTR fans will be very excited to hear that Tom Bombadil – a favourite from the written source material – will finally be brought to life on screen, as a character addition for Rings of Power season two.
In the most recent cast news, it was revealed that Rory Kinnear (of Bank of Dave and Bond fame) will take on the mysterious and worldly-wise Tom.
Showrunner McKay has shared (via Vanity Fair) some context for the character, explaining: "He's whimsical and magical, and almost verging on silly.
"But also has the wisdom of the ages and the music of the spheres and deep emotional wells of ancient history and myth, and his conception and function are tied to Norse myths and have deep roots in European fairy tale."
Elsewhere, it's also recently been revealed that actor Nazanin Boniadi will not be returning for season two. In the first season, she played the role of Bronwyn – a human whose forbidden romance with Elf Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) was woven throughout the episodes.
Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
Related: LEGO's new Lord of the Rings sets are available to buy now
As we've previously mentioned above, Charlie Vickers will, of course, be back in the role of big bad villain Sauron, even if he's now taken another form (as he's been known to do across JRR Tolkien's original works).
We now know that Sauron will appear as an Elf named Annatar, known also as the Lord of Gifts.
Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is also a must-have for the show's second season, and thank goodness because she's pretty badass, and she's got quite a bit of avenging to do.
We've also had confirmation of the return of many other fan-favourite characters, including Elrond (Robert Aramayo), Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), Dwarven city's Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur), Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete) and Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards).
Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
There have also been some new cast announcements for Rings of Power's second season, with plenty of new characters joining the fold.
Círdan, one of the wisest Elves and wearer of one of the Three Rings, is set to be part of season two (according to The Hollywood Reporter), although it's not yet been confirmed who will be taking on the role.
Sanders has also revealed that lots of new faces will be joining this already impressive cast.
The Witcher's Yasen "Zates" Atour and Ridley Road's Gabriel Akuwudike will be appearing in the new episodes, along with The Crown's Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle and Nicholas Woodeson.
Peaky Blinders star Sam Hazeldine has also been cast, but not in a new role. He'll be replacing Joseph Mawle as the Orc leader Adar in season two, for reasons currently unknown.
More additions to the cast include Bridgerton's Calam Lynch and The Pact's Stuart Bowman, with the following also joining:
• The Bay's Oliver Alvin-Wilson
• The Undeclared War's Gavi Singh Chera
• The Sandman's William Chubb
• Game of Thrones' Kevin Eldon
• The Crown's Will Keen
• Hellraiser's Selina Lo
New Line Cinema
Is Gandalf in Rings of Power season 2?
Many believe that the mysterious character known as The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), who arrived on Middle-earth in a meteor, is actually our beloved wizard Gandalf.
While there's plenty to hint at the theory – take his affinity with trees and animals, or some of his suspiciously Gandalf-esque dialogue – this hasn't been officially confirmed.
It has, however, been explicitly revealed that this Stranger is actually one of the Istari, making him a wise wizard. Sounds about right.
We also know from the events of the season finale that, whoever this Stranger is, he's definitely good.
With confirmation that Weyman will be back for season two – it seems he can be briefly seen brandishing a stick (or a staff, again, very Gandalf) in the trailer – we'd hope to get a clear answer.
Amazon Prime
What will happen in Rings of Power season 2?
We left Nori Brandyfoot and 'The Stranger' journeying to Rhûn in search of answers, and Galadriel has of course been left reeling from the news that Sauron had been with her all along.
We've started to get some hints at what's to come in the new instalment, with actor Sophia Nomvete (who plays Princess Disa) opening up about how "beautifully" filming for season two had been going.
"I cannot tell you how excited I am. Because there's just more of everything," she said during the Deadline Contenders TV panel back in April.
Teasing the plot post-Sauron reveal, she said: "How does every single world navigate his time, his reign and his force? And it is absolutely mind-blowing."
Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
"I hope I'm allowed to say that but it's so desperately exciting," she continued. "Disa is currently being described as a kind of joyful Lady M at the moment, which is amazing and really exciting to play. There is a lot to play for. There is a lot coming and I cannot wait to see it."
One thing we know for sure is that there'll be a shift in tone in the second batch of episodes – and this has certainly been seen already in the trailer.
"Season two is fundamentally different in that our main villain is out and about, and doing his thing," executive producer Lindsey Weber previously told Deadline. "I think in some ways, it's going to [be] grittier, more intense, maybe a little scarier."
Speaking at the panel, Nomvete added: "Season one was this glorious introduction.
"We want to know, the world, the culture, how are we bringing this amazing story and this infrastructure to life. And that's what we see, the peaceful phase, the introductory phase.
"How does every single world navigate [Sauron's] time, his reign and his force? And it is absolutely mind-blowing."
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season one is available to watch on Prime Video, and season two will arrive from August 29, 2024.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).