‘The Rings of Power’ season 3: Everything we know about the next epic chapter in Middle-earth (and its new cast members)

Prime Video’s fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power wrapped up its second season in October 2024, and months later, viewers are still buzzing from the intense fights and shocking deaths.

Set thousands of years before J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, the series dives into the dramatic events of Middle-earth’s Second Age. Season 2 picks up right where season 1 left off, with the rise of Dark Lord Sauron (Charlie Vickers) and his master plan to trick the Elves into forging more Rings of Power — ones he can use to control all of Middle-earth.

From jaw-dropping reveals to massive battles, season 2 delivered plenty of unforgettable moments. But there’s still much more of the story to tell, and fans are eager to know what’s next. So, when will we get to watch The Rings of Power season 3? Here’s everything we know so far, from casting announcements to plot details.

How did The Rings of Power season 2 end?

The season 2 finale of The Rings of Power delivers major reveals and intense showdowns across Middle-earth. Most notably, the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) is revealed to be Gandalf, and Sauron (Charlie Vickers) tortures and kills Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), who gave Nenya to Galadriel earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, the orc Glûg (Robert Strange) betrays and kills Adar (Sam Hazeldine) on behalf of Sauron. The latter then faces off against Galadriel in a long-awaited showdown, which marks their first meeting since he tricked her in season 1.

“I feel like we’ve been waiting for the confrontation between Sauron and Galadriel throughout the season,” Charlotte Brändström, who directed the season 2 finale, told Entertainment Weekly. “This is the first time they’ve see each other again since she was deceived by him in the first season. So I said, nobody else can touch that one. I really need to work with the actors on it.”

After posing as the rogue Halbrand in season 1, Sauron returns in season 2 disguised as the elf Annatar. But during the fight, he shifts back into Halbrand to shake Galadriel.

Brändström explained that his shapeshifting, including briefly taking the forms of Celebrimbor and Galadriel, is meant to show his desperation and desire to regain control. “He was doing it because she managed to kick him down and he fell on his back. He needed to reassert his power. He felt weaker, so he wanted to destabilize her, and that’s why he’s doing it.”

Sauron ultimately claims the nine rings for Men, while Galadriel secures Nenya. Durin IV (Owain Arthur) eventually sends reinforcements, helping Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and the Elves retreat. Elrond and Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) use their rings to heal Galadriel, and the Elves brace for war as Sauron’s forces advance.

Is there a The Rings of Power season 3 release date?

We hate to be the ones to break it to you, but there’s still no official release date for The Rings of Power season 3.

However, the wheels are already turning behind the scenes, seeing as The Hollywood Reporter reported that the writers room reopened in October 2024. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay gathered a fellowship of creative minds, including executive producer Justin Doble, consulting producers Ben Tagoe, Ava Wong Davies, Constance Cheng, Jonathan Wilson, and staff writers Griff Jones and Sarah Anson.

Even better, filming officially kicked off in mid-May 2025 at their new home base, Shepperton Studios.

What is The Rings of Power season 3 about?

Plot details for The Rings of Power season 3 remain under wraps, but the showrunners previously told Radio Times that each season is designed around “major tentpole moments” from Tolkien’s history of the Second Age.

Once season 3 was confirmed in February 2025, The Hollywood Reporter shared that the show will feature a significant time jump. “Jumping forward several years from the events of season 2, season 3 takes place at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to craft the One Ring that will give him the edge he needs to win the war and conquer all Middle-earth at last,” reads the official logline.

Who’s in The Rings of Power season 3 cast?

The Rings of Power will bring back many of his major players, including Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Aramayo, Clark, Vickers, and Weyman.

There are also a handful of new additions to the cast, the most notable being Stranger Things star Jamie Campbell Bower, who Deadline reported is playing a character described as a “handsome high-born knight” with the code name “Arlen.” English actor Eddie Marsan is set to recur in season 3 of The Rings of Power, though not much is known about his character, code-named “Dromm,” other than he reportedly has a brother and a Scottish accent.

On June 12, Prime Video announced that The Rings of Power added Andrew Richardson, Zubin Varla, and Adam Young to the season 3 cast. Richardson will be a series regular, while Varla and Young will take on recurring roles.

Canadian-born British actor Andrew Richardson has an extensive stage resume, but he’s also appeared onscreen on The Last O.G. (2020), Fantasy Island (2021), Daughter of the Bride (2023), and Extrapolations (2023). Up next for Richardson is a recurring role in the Peacock series Ponies, starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson.

Award-winning British actor and singer Zubin Varla has already been credited with voice work in season 2 of The Rings of Power. Varla also has an extensive stage resume, while his previous onscreen credits include Strike Back (2013), Deep State (2018-2019), Holby City (2012-2021), and the Emmy-nominated Star Wars show Andor (2022). Varla will soon star in Netflix’s upcoming political thriller series Hostage, as well as an untitled TV project for the BBC.

British actor Adam Young is best known for playing Jim-Bob in the 2021 horror film Don’t Breathe 2. He made his screen debut in Tom Beard’s Two for Joy (2018), starring alongside The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey. He’s since appeared in Sex Education (2019), EastEnders (2021), The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022), and Masters of the Air (2024).

Where can I watch The Rings of Power?

The first two seasons of The Rings of Power are streaming on Prime Video.

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