The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, takes audiences back to the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. Created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, Season 1 of the series made its debut in September 2022, followed by its sophomore season in August 2024. Now, in good news for eager fans, it has been confirmed that The Rings of Power is returning for a third season.
Ripping the band-aid off and addressing the most pressing question that fans may have for now — a release date for Season 3 has not been confirmed at the time of writing. However, given what we already know about Season 3, especially that it may tap into vital Tolkien lore, it looks as though the upcoming season is well on its way to garnering a positive audience reception. With the explosive note that Season 2 ended on, here’s what we know about the storyline of Season 3 and the new faces that viewers may get to see in the new season.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 3 Will Have a Time Jump
The conclusion of Season 2 saw the island nation of Númenor in turmoil, Sauron defeating the Elven kingdom of Eregion and the Elves escaping to what is likely the future Rivendell to regroup, the Dwarven realm of Khazad-dûm in upheaval as Durin III sacrifices himself to the Balrog and Durin IV ascends to the throne, the Stranger’s true identity revealed and Nori and the Stranger seemingly parting ways. Despite Season 2’s ending teasing several narratives for Season 3, an announcement on the series’ official Instagram account has confirmed that the upcoming season will open with a 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.”
With the promise of Season 3 to fling viewers into the thick of the action, it likely means audiences will be in the aftermath of Númenor’s turmoil, see Rivendell possibly at the height of its glory, and witness characters such as Gandalf and Durin IV much more powerful than when Season 2 let off. However, the biggest promise of the Season 3 teaser is that audiences will finally see the One Ring come to life. Admittedly, the season may stretch its creation out, with focus being afforded to the nine Rings of Men that Sauron forces Celebrimbor to make at the end of Season 2.
‘The Rings of Power’ Season 3 Narrative May Reveal the Ringwraiths’ Origin Story
Given that Sauron has the nine Rings of Men in his possession at the conclusion of the sophomore season, it is highly likely that Season 3 will dive into the exploration of who the Ringwraiths are and how they are created. The Ringwraiths, also known as the Nazgûl, are shrouded in mystery throughout Tolkien lore, with only two ever being named. The Rings of Power Season 3 may shed some light on the mystery.
The upcoming season will likely chronicle the Nine that Sauron chooses to give the rings to, and given that neither the Dwarves nor the Elves turned into wraiths by wearing the ring, it will be these chosen Nine that turn into the cruel Nazgûl that The Lord of the Rings viewers are familiar with. According to lore, the Rings of Men were given to powerful mortal men, who later turned corrupt and became Sauron’s most feared servants.
Giving these men’s identities, homes, and backstories would have a profound impact on the narrative, enriching the Tolkien lore and shifting the tone of the series. Instead of being merely faceless, shadowy, and terrifying, the Nazgûl would become their own individual characters, with ambitions, struggles and ultimately a tragic downfall. Chronicling their descent into darkness at the cunning and manipulative hands of Sauron would make the fate of the Nazgûl all the more personal and poignant.
‘The Rings of Power’ Season 3 Makes Several Cast Additions
The Rings of Power Season 3 has also made some changes to its cast, announcing new additions. Jamie Campbell Bower, star of Netflix’s Stranger Things, and Eddie Marsan from Ray Donovan have been slated to join Season 3, with the former as a series regular and the latter in a recurring role. The new additions have interesting implications for the upcoming season, especially in relation to Bower’s potential role in the series.
While Bower’s and Marsan’s characters have not been officially announced, it has been reported that Bower will play “a handsome high-born knight.” Based on this description, speculation is that Bower may take on the role of Galadriel’s husband, Celeborn. Over the course of the series, Galadriel revealed that her husband went to war and never returned, with it being believed that he had died. However, there is no confirmation regarding his fate. Given this, and the fact that Celeborn is a powerful character in Tolkien’s stories, it is likely that Bower will take on the role of Galadriel’s long-lost husband in Season 3.
The only information that has been revealed regarding Marsan’s role in the season is the fact that he has a brother. Based on this information, most fans believe that Marsan could probably play Durin’s brother. The end of Season 2 sees Durin IV take the throne of Khazad-dûm after his father’s demise, although Disa, Durin’s wife, notes that there are rumors that her husband was not King Durin III’s chosen heir. Given the fact that Marsan’s role reportedly required a Scottish accent, it is highly probable that Marsan will, in fact, play Durin’s brother in Season 3.
