“It Is A Business”: Rings Of Power Season 3 & Beyond Addressed By Amazon Studios Boss Given S2 Viewership

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 and beyond has been addressed by head of Amazon MGM Studios Jennifer Salke, given the high level of viewership the show received in season 2. The Rings of Power season 2 ended with over 55 million people having watched the series since the new episodes began their release, putting the show into the top five original series produced by Prime Video. While it’s unclear how this translates in terms of viewer retention and minutes watched, reports indicate the show is on track for a season 3 confirmation soon.

Speaking with Variety, Salke expressed happiness regarding the success of The Rings of Power season 2, explaining the show has reached 150 million viewers since it first began in 2022. The Amazon MGM Studios head also indicated the series had a 50-episode commitment that they plan to continue with, though it’s also something that will require numerous viewers to maintain justification for making the show. Check out what Salke had to say below:

Obviously [The Rings of Power season 2 had] very different marketing levels and all of that [to Season 1]. But that being said, over 55 million people at this point have engaged since Season 2 launched. And if you look at the long-term trajectory, which is how this company looks at an asset like that, this is a long-term investment in that franchise. […] There’s well over 150 million viewers watching and engaging with the show. So I feel really good. I think we all do.

[Regarding if there will be any change to Amazon’s 50-episode commitment] I don’t think so. [That] commitment is never the thing that’s driving what we’re doing. We’ll continue to make the show as long as we see global customers loving it and watching it to the point where — it is a business. Obviously, we need a large amount of people showing up. And there are a large amount of people, so there’s no debate about whether or not the show will continue.

What Salke’s Comments Mean For The Rings Of Power Season 3 & Beyond

Before Salke’s comments on the show’s possible continuation, it was previously reported that The Rings of Power season 3 might be renewed by the end of this month. Given her positive comments about the show, it appears not only will it likely get renewed, but its original planned storyline will also come to fruition. This means showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are likely going to see the fantasy series through to the end, the rise of Sauron across Middle-earth and the creation of the One Ring not far from happening.

What’s interesting to note is that, despite reports of plans through season 5, Salke confirmed a 50-episode plan was in place instead. Since every season so far has been eight episodes, it’s possible The Rings of Power will run through season 6, bringing the total to 48 episodes, with two extras still needing to be accounted for. While it’s unclear what this means for the cast of The Rings of Power, who might be in their roles for another decade given the current release schedule, it does indicate a much larger story than originally thought.

Our Take On The Rings Of Power’s Season 3 Renewal Chances

With another 34 episodes left to portray [Sauron’s] rise, the show seemingly has plenty of room left to depict all the events that are yet to unfold.

Since Salke is extremely positive about the viewership of The Rings of Power, it seems like the show is going to get renewed for season 3, alongside following through its 50-episode plan. Although the series had a low viewership retention rate in season 1, the overall performance of season 2 likely won’t be clearer to the public for some time. Even so, the Amazon MGM Studios boss seems happy with the show’s overall performance, meaning there’s a strong chance it will continue for many years to come as long as viewership remains steady.

As far as the storyline itself is concerned, The Rings of Power’s timeline is set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, concerning the rise of Sauron, the creation of the Rings, and his eventual defeat, leading into The Lord of the Rings. With another 34 episodes left to portray his rise, the show seemingly has plenty of room left to depict all the events that are yet to unfold. However, lengthy waits between seasons could be the show’s detriment if going until season 6 is in the cards, with the series not finishing until 2032 on its current release schedule.

Read More About The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power

Everything from The Rings of Power’s many Easter eggs to the show’s recent revelation that the Stranger is Gandalf set in motion a long-term plan that hints at future conflicts to come. With the season 2 finale already hinting at the One Ring, the show is clearly building to a massive battle between Sauron and the people of Middle-earth, as depicted during The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Since Salke is positive about the show’s viewership levels, maintaining them guarantees the show will likely continue up to this point on The Lord of the Rings’ timeline.

Since the show has a sprawling story covering everything from the history of Khazad-dûm to Númenor, having 50 episodes might be necessary in order to develop every part of Middle-earth being focused on. But, since The Rings of Power season 2 reviews have critiqued the show’s slow pacing and churning storytelling, it’s unclear if viewer retention rates can be maintained should its rather glaring problems continue to grow. But, given the tens of millions of people the series has reached, it doesn’t sound like it an issue for the series to justify its existence should it keep loyal viewers invested.