Have We Already Seen Jamie Campbell Bower’s LOTR Character In The Rings Of Power?

Jamie Campbell Bower is confirmed to be playing a new character in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3, and I’m convinced I know exactly who it will be. The Lord of the Rings spinoff series has introduced a variety of canon characters in its two existing seasons, and there have been several more teased along the way. Of course, Tolkien’s Second Age works make mention of dozens upon dozens of characters, so the sky is the limit regarding who Bower will play in Rings of Power season 3. Still, considering the actor’s appearance and past works, I have a hunch.

Bower is among the first new actors announced for the confirmed Rings of Power season 3, which is still in the earliest stages of production. This actor is best known for playing Vecna in the massively popular Netflix series, Stranger Things, and has also played the younger version of Gellert Grindelwald in both Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the Fantastic Beasts movies. As for Rings of Power, Bower is confirmed to be playing a new series regular, and his mysterious character is described as “handsome high-born knight.” This is a major clue.

Jamie Campbell Bower Would Be A Perfect Celeborn & I’m Convinced That’s Who He’s Playing

We may not have much to go on just yet, but I would still bet my hat that Bower will play Celeborn in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3. In canon, this is Galadriel’s husband, who rules Lothlórien by her side. Though not much of a power player in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Celeborn was a valiant warrior in the First and Second Ages, and could indeed be described as a “handsome high-born knight” since he was born the Prince of Doriath. It has also been teased that Bower’s character could be a romantic interest for Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel—who better than her LOTR endgame?

The Rings Of Power Has Already Set Up Celeborn’s Return (To Fix Tolkien’s Canon)

Bower’s Rings of Power character seems even more likely to be Celeborn since season 1 already set up his appearance. One of the greatest confusions of the Prime Video series’ first episodes was the fact that Galadriel was seemingly single. According to canon, she should have already been married by the events of Rings of Power season 1, but there was no mention of Celeborn for several episodes. Finally, Galadriel admitted to Theo that she had been married, but that her husband Celeborn had died during the great war with Morgoth. Of course, Tolkien canon dictates that she is mistaken.

I’d already concluded that Galadriel’s husband will have to make his big return in season 3, and the news that Bower’s handsome knight character is joining the fray is essentially confirmation.

Rings of Power season 2 came and went without mentioning Celeborn, but the series can’t get away with leaving him out for much longer. I’d already concluded that Galadriel’s husband will have to make his big return in season 3, and the news that Bower’s handsome knight character is joining the fray is essentially confirmation. Galadriel being single and in perpetual mourning worked well enough for the first two seasons. She needed to be unattached as she focused entirely on hunting down Sauron. However, the time has come to restore this bit of canon, and Bower has appeared at the perfect time.

What Celeborn’s Return Would Mean For Galadriel & Sauron (& Galadriel & Elrond!)

Of course, if Bower is playing Celeborn in Rings of Power season 3, it will be interesting to see how the series works in the character’s return. As previously stated, Galadriel believes her husband to be dead, but there was essentially nothing revealed regarding how and why. Given the potential for reincarnation for the Elves of The Lord of the Rings, it’s possible that his version of Celeborn truly did die, but the Valar saw fit to restore him to life and reunite him with Galadriel. Only time will tell. The bigger question will be what Celeborn’s return will mean for Galadriel’s other relationships.

Rings of Power really leaned into the shock factor by introducing a borderline romantic relationship between Galadriel and Halbrand (secretly Sauron) in season 1. Thankfully, season 2 saw Galadriel prove once and for all that Sauron hadn’t gained this sort of control over her, so she is free from her reluctant affection toward him. However, Rings of Power added even more controversy by featuring a big kiss between Galadriel and Elrond. Since the latter elf is destined to marry Galadriel and Celeborn’s daughter, Celebrian, things will get a bit weird in Rings of Power season 3.