- Releasing on Prime Video in August
- First trailer revealed in May
- Season 2 will follow Tolkien's books more closely than the first did
- Key cast set to return
- New cast members revealed, but their identities remain a mystery
- Official story synopsis unveiled
- Plans for season 3 already in the pipeline
- New Lord of the Rings movies won't impact its development
After months of speculation The Rings of Power season 2 has an official release date. The hugely successful Amazon TV show will return to our screens in August, but you'll need to read on to find out exactly when it'll make its Prime Video debut.
That's not all you'll learn about The Rings of Power's sophomore season, though. Below, we've rounded every important piece of information you need to know ahead of one of the best Prime Video shows' return. That includes its first trailer, confirmed cast, plot details – official synopsis and rumors – and the high fantasy prequel series' future. Oh, and how the newly announced The Lord of The Rings films might impact its development.
Full spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 1. Potential season 2 spoilers are also discussed, so proceed at your own risk.
The Rings of Power season 2 release date
Evil has had many names. The Rings Of Power returns August 29 on @PrimeVideo. pic.twitter.com/blqhy6QleIMay 14, 2024
The Rings of Power's second entry will premiere on Prime Video on Thursday, August 29. The confirmation came by way of The Rings of Power season 2's first trailer, which confirmed the hit show's return date as part of its footage.
It's unclear how many episodes will be released on launch day. Season 1 arrived with a two-episode premiere in September 2022, so logic would dictate that its successor will do likewise. However, with Amazon trialling a full season release with the first season of its Fallout TV show, we could get all eight episodes of The Rings of Power 2 on release day. We'll update this section once we know more.
The Rings of Power season 2 trailer
The Rings of Power season 2's teaser trailer made its way online on May 14, and it certainly hints at a much darker installment that'll adapt Middle-earth's lore and history more closely than its predecessor. For more details about the biggest secrets (keep them safe!) that it contains, read our article on The Rings of Power season 2's trailer breakdown.
That's not the only footage that's been debuted recently. Hours after the first trailer's unveiling, Amazon also released a behind-the-scenes featurette for the show's next entry, which comprises snippets of new footage among its various cast and crew interviews:
The Rings of Power season 2 cast: confirmed and rumored
Major spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 1. Potential season 2 cast spoilers are also discussed.
Here's who we'll see (as confirmed by the teaser trailer, and listed first), plus who's likely to return (everyone appearing after Sam Hazeldine's Adar), in The Rings of Power season 2:
- Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
- Charlie Vickers as Sauron/Annatar
- Robert Aramayo as Elrond
- Benjamin Walker as High King Gil-galad
- Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor
- Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir
- Lloyd Owen as Elendil
- Maxim Baldry as Isildur
- Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
- Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV
- Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa
- Peter Mullan as King Durin III
- Markella Kavenagh as Eleanor 'Nori' Brandyfoot
- Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
- Sam Hazeldine as Adar
- Nazain Boniadi as Bronwyn
- Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo
- Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Queen Regent Míriel
- Ema Horvath as Eärien
- Leon Wadham as Kemen
- Dylan Smith as Largo Brandyfoot
- Sara Zwangobani as Marigold Brandyfoot
- Megan Richards and Poppy Proudfellow
As The Rings of Power season 1 finale revealed, Halbrand was the human disguise for Sauron, The Lord of the Rings' primary antagonist. In season 2, we'll see plenty more of the Maiar, as well as elven form named Annatar – the so-called Lord of Gifts that Sauron masquerades as to fool the elves into helping him to craft more of the titular rings.
We expect to see Alex Tarrant's Valandil, Geoff Morrell's Waldreg, Maxine Cunliffe as Vilma, and Thusitha Jayasundera as Malva next season, although Vilma and Malva's appearances depend on the Harfoot community's return (more on this later). Elsewhere, The Rings of Power season 2 has dropped a big name star, with Joseph Mawle, who played Adar, being replaced by Sam Hazeldine (Peaky Blinders).
As for those who won't be back, Lenny Henry's Sadoc Burrows isn't part of season 2. He died in episode 8 after he was fatally injured him during a battle between The Stranger, Harfoots, and The Mystics. The latter were also destroyed by The Stranger during the same fight, so they aren't coming back.
On the newcomer front, 17 other actors were confirmed for season 2 in 2023. Six were announced alongside Mawle's departure (see the link above), eight more were forged in the fires of Mount Doom (metaphorically speaking), before some James Bond, Star Wars, and Harry Potter stars were added to the series' ranks. Potential season 2 cast spoilers follow from this point on.
- William Chubb (The Sandman)
- Kevin Eldon (Game of Thrones)
- Will Keen (His Dark Materials)
- Selina Lo (Hellraiser)
- Calum Lynch (Bridgerton, Derry Girls)
- Stuart Bowman (Alex Rider)
- Gavi Singh Chera (The Lazarus Project)
- Oliver Alvin-Wilson (Lovesick)
- Ben Daniels (Jupiter's Legacy, Foundation)
- Yasen "Zates" Atour (Young Wallander)
- Gabriel Akuwudike (1917)
- Nia Towle (Persuasion)
- Nicholas Woodeson (Rome)
- Amelia Kenworthy (N/A)
- Ciaran Hinds (Harry Potter, Treason)
- Rory Kinnear (James Bond)
- Tanya Moodie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker)
One new character confirmed we'll see is Cirdan the Shipwright. In the source material, Cirdan was Lord of the Falathrim in the First Age and owned one of the titular rings – Narya – before passing it onto Gandalf. Benjamin Walker, who plays High King Gil-galad, has teased (via Nerdist) that Cirdan will be an "important influence" on his character.
Cirdan isn't the only elf who could feature. In episode 7, Galadriel name-checked Celeborn, the elf she's wedded to and who she presumes is dead. However, Tolkien fans know he's still alive, that the duo eventually reunite, and then make the city of Lothlórien their permanent home. Speaking at a press event that TechRadar attended, though, co-showrunner Patrick McKay refused to confirm Celeborn will appear in season 2.
Elsewhere, Charles Edwards, who plays Celebrimbor, wants to see a deep-cut dwarf character, aka the dwarf known as Narvi, make their live-action debut. And it seems he'll get his wish, with The Fellowship of Fans (TFoF) suggesting we'll see Celebrimbor and Narvi create the Doors of Durin in a flashback sequence.
Finally, with the first of the titular rings being crafted in season 1 episode 8, we'll see the other 17 forged in season 2 (see the tweet above for confirmation). Characters like Khamûl the Easterling – one of the nine Ringwraiths – could make their live-action debut, then.
The Rings of Power season 2 plot rumors
Here's The Rings of Power season 2's official plot synopsis: "In season 2 of The Rings of Power, Sauron has returned. 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.
"Building on season 1’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges 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. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other."
Now that Sauron has been revealed – Vickers told TechRadar he didn't know he was playing Sauron until filming the third episode – Middle-earth's legendary villain is going to take center stage.
For starters, he's arrived in Mordor to make it his base of operations. Adar and his followers already inhabit this realm, so it'll be fascinating to see if they team up with Sauron. Vickers told TechRadar that he'd be excited to explore the pair's frosty relationship further, which we already glimpsed in season 1 episode 6, adding: "I really love that dynamic. These characters have a long history, so I'd be keen to explore that further and even build on it."
As for Galadriel, her decision not to tell her fellow elves about Sauron is going to come back and haunt her. Not only does Elrond already knowsshe's lied to him – the elven scholar discovering the Southlands' royal lineage scroll, which Galadriel used to work out who Halbrand was, in last season's finale – Sauron is also set to deceive the elves once more. Indeed, this season, he'll assume his Annatar alias, with the view to persuading Eregion's elven smiths to help him create more of the titular rings.
Speaking of said jewellery, there are more to be created, including the One Ring. Will Sauron craft the iconic band this season? Vickers wouldn't say, but he told TechRadar that Sauron "has a plan". Take that as a yes, then.
Regarding their creation, Tolkien's source material states that the rings for the dwarves and men (seven and nine respectively) were created alongside the One Ring and elven ones. However, the latter trio's creation didn't happen alongside the others in Amazon's TV show, which has played pretty loose with some Tolkien lore.
This season, however, will follow Tolkien's literary works much more closely, so we think the other 17 rings will be forged in the show's next batch of episodes. We already know Durin's Ring will be made – we see as much in the first trailer – so it stands to reason that the others will be, too, before Sauron's masterplan is discovered.
Moving away from Sauron and the elves, we'll also follow up with The Stranger. We know he's one of the Istari, aka one of the five wizards sent to Middle-earth by the Valar (Middle-earth's gods, essentially) to help thwart Sauron. The season 1 finale also seemed to confirm his real identity, although none of the cast found out that The Stranger was a wizard until filming on season 1 had nearly wrapped.
Anyway, The Stranger and new Harfoot buddy Nori are heading to Rhûn in Middle-earth's far eastern regions to determine his identity, learn more about his past, and see if he can finally channel his powers properly. Will they run into Khamûl or the two Blue Wizards, providing The Stranger isn't one of that duo? We certainly hope so.
As for the other Harfoots, they're headed for pastures new again. Speaking during a press screening, which TechRadar attended, in October 2022, McKay confirmed we'll be reunited with the, at some point and even teased their involvement in Hobbiton's founding.
Elsewhere, we should find out where the Southlanders have relocated to. Season 1 episode 7 confirmed the Southlands is the region that becomes Mordor after The Rings of Power episode 6's explosive ending. Additionally, Bronwyn suggested the remaining Southlanders would resettle in Pelargir, a city on the banks of the river Anduin that becomes Gondor's main port in the Third Age. This group – Silvan elf warrior Arondir, who accompanies them, aside – were absent from the first trailer, so we're still waiting to find out how much of a role they'll play in season 2.
It's unlikely season 1 will mark the end of the Southlanders' time in the series. In the source material, Pelargir becomes a haven for the Faithful – Númenóreans who are friendly with the elves – during the island kingdom's moral decline in the Second Age. If events play out like they do in Tolkien's works, we'll see Browyn and Theo again.
Over in Khazad-dûm, King Durin III and Prince Durin IV need to resolve their familial dispute. The former stripped his son of his titles after they fell out over the mining of mithril, but we're hoping they make amends. We believe season 2 will depict the brutal Siege of Eregion in its final few episodes, and Durin III's forces are key to trying to stop Sauron's army from decimating the elven city. Indeed, Tolkien's works confirm that King Durin sends a legion of dwarven warriors to aid Eregeion as the War of the Elves and Sauron begins. It would make sense, then, for him to patch things up with his son (and the elves) to ensure that Middle-earth's timeline plays out in the same way in Amazon's TV adaptation.
The two Durins will also need to set their differences aside to deal with a prominent Balrog – aka Durin's Bane – in season 1 episode 7. Asked by TechRadar if we'll see Durin's Bane again soon, McKay simply teased: "Season 2, sir. Stay tuned". The second season's first trailer teases the Balrog's emergence, too, so expect to see it attack Khazad-dûm at some stage.
Then there's the upheaval in Númenor. King Palantir is dead, meaning Queen Regent Míriel should be crowned the island realm's next ruler. With Míriel blinded in episode 7, plus what we know of Númenor's history, though, Pharazôn will make a play for the throne. That, alongside Sauron (albeit in a disguise) visiting Númenor – we don't know if this subplot will be tackled in The Rings of Power season 2 – at some point will eventually lead to the kingdom's downfall.
And what of Elendil, Isildur, and Eärien? The former will be grieving for his son – we know Isildur is alive, given the role he plays in Sauron's defeat in the Second Age and his appearance in season 2's first trailer – while still carrying out his Númenorean duties. Meanwhile, Eärien discovered the palantír in the season 1's final entry. Will she use it to see into Númenor's future? Her decision to do so or not could have big implications for everyone.
Will The Rings of Power get more seasons?
The Rings of Power season 2 won't be the series' final installment. Payne and McKay have planned for five seasons, which is already mapped out. Based on reports on February, The Rings of Power season 3 is already in development, too.
More seasons of The Rings of Power aren't the only Lord of the Rings projects we'll see soon, either.
Warner Bros. Discovery will release War of the Rohirrim , an animated film set almost 200 years before The Lord of The Rings' book trilogy, will arrive in late 2024. A new film from Peter Jackson, who's directed the six live-action Lord of the Rings movies, is also in early development. It's called The Hunt for Gollum, and it'll see Andy Serkis return as the titular character. Jackson is on board as a producer, while Serkis will direct this feature, which is slated to be released in 2026.
These other project won't impact The Rings of Power, however. It's one of most-watched shows in Prime Video's history so, unless the second season suffers a huge drop off in viewership, it's unlikely to be cancelled any time soon. In short: expect McKay and Payne to see their full vision for a five-season story realized.
For more Prime Video TV-based coverage, get the lowdown on Invincible season 3, Fallout season 2, and The Boys season 4.
