The Rings of Power season 3: everything we know so far about the hit Prime Video show’s next entry

The Rings of Power season 3 is officially a-go at Amazon MGM Studios. Almost five months (at the time of this article's last update) after the popular high fantasy show's second season ended on Prime Video, its sequel has been greenlit. So, it's time to get the lowdown on everything we know so far about this Lord of the Rings (LotR) prequel's next entry.

Below, I've rounded up the latest information (and the odd rumor) on The Rings of Power's third season. That includes when filming is set to start, who'll be part of its cast, its official story synopsis, and more.

Tread carefully, though, because major spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 2 and elements of Tolkien's LotR books and supporting literature.

The Rings of Power season 3 release date: what we know so far

It doesn't have a release date yet, but Amazon has confirmed The Rings of Power season 3 is officially in the works. That announcement was made on February 13 and comes nearly six months after showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay told TechRadar they were already "working on" its scripts. Filming is due to start this spring (that's autumn for those who live below the equator), too.

As for when the Amazon TV Original's third installment may arrive, I'd be surprised if it's here before early 2027. The Rings of Power season 1 was released on September 2, 2022 – two and a half years after filming began, but that was down to the pandemic's impact. Meanwhile, season 2's eight-month shooting schedule started in October 2022. Filming wrapped in June 2023 before the latest season debuted on August 29, 2024.

If this season follows a similar filming and release trajectory to the show's second outing, it'll take around two years to launch on Prime Video. I predict a February or March 2027 release, then, though I could see its debut held back until later in the year if Amazon wants to preserve the series' traditional early fall (that's autumn for non-US readers and spring for southern hemisphere dwellers) release schedule.

The Rings of Power trailer: is there one?

No, and there won't be one until The Rings of Power season 3's release draws close. We'll update this section once a trailer is available.

The Rings of Power season 3 cast speculation

Full spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 2.

Based on how season 2 ended, here's who we expect to see again in The Rings of Power season 3:

• Charlie Vickers as Sauron
• Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
• Robert Aramayo as Elrond
• Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad
• Ismael Cruz Cordova as Arondir
• Owain Arthur as Durin IV
• Sophia Nomvete as Disa
• Kevin Eldon as Narvi
• Lloyd Own as Elendil
• Maxim Baldry as Isildur
• Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Míriel
• Ema Horvath as Eärien
• Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
• Leon Wadham as Kemen
• Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo
• Daniel Weyman as Gandalf
• Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil
• Ciaran Hinds as The Dark Wizard
• Markella Kavenagh as Nori
• Megan Richards as Poppy

There are a number of big-name characters who won't return. Charles Edwards' Celebrimbor is the most notable absence, with Eregion's leader and the master smith dying in the season 2 finale. Unless Celebrimbor returns in a flashback sequence, as one of Sauron's disguises (the Dark Lord masqueraded as Celebrimbor during his season 2 showdown with Galadriel), or – as depicted in Tolkien's wider works – his corpse is paraded on a banner as part of Sauron's army in season 3, Edwards won't reprise this role.

Peter Mullan's King Durin III won't be back, either – Khazad-dûm's former monarch perished in an unwinnable duel with the Balrog known as Durin's Bane. Sam Hazeldine's Adar, Robert Strange's Glûg, and Amelia Kenworth's Mirdania are also on the deceased pile. Adar was murdered by Glûg and a band of orcs after Sauron used his dark magic to turn them against their Lord Father. Meanwhile, Glûg was slain by a furious and impulsive Sauron during the final throes of the Siege of Eregion. Lastly, Mirdania was fatally injured after she was thrown from Eregion's walls by Sauron (although it was made to look like Celebrimbor did it) in season 2 episode 7. She was beheaded by an orc moments later.

As for potential newcomers, The Rings of Power season 3 should introduce new characters – those already established in LotR and original creations alike – to bolster its already extensive cast ranks. New faces could include Prince Durin's brother, who's set to vie with his sibling for Khazad-dûm's throne, and the nine kings of mortal men – Rhûn's Khamûl the Easterling among them – who'll surely be gifted one of the final nine Rings of Power by Sauron next time around.

Celeborn, Galadriel's presumed dead husband who's been conspicuous by his absence thus far, is another option. Celeborn not only plays an integral role in the elves' war to come with Sauron (more on this shortly) but also establishes the realm of Lothlórien with Galadriel in Middle-earth's Third Age, so he seems like a safe bet to appear.

The Rings of Power season 3 story rumors

Major spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 2, plus J.R.R. Tolkien's various literary works.

Here's The Rings of Power season 3's story brief as outlined in a Prime Video X/Twitter post: "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 all of Middle-earth at last."

So, next season will feature a time jump, tackle the ongoing war between Sauron and his elven foes, and see the creation of his legendary Ring of Power, which Vickers previously told TechRadar he sees as the "next piece of the puzzle" for Middle-earth's Big Bad. Not a bad way to start the show's next chapter, eh?

Based on what happened in the season 2 finale – read our The Rings of Power season 2 ending explained piece for more details – and LotR's source material, we can predict what else lies in store for Sauron and the series' other characters.

Sauron should also gift the nine rings to Middle-earth's mortal men. He finally acquired the, in season 2 episode 8, titled 'Shadow and Flame'. These rings are the ones he's imbued with the greatest amount of dark magic – remember, his literal blood was secretly poured into them – so he'll be able to corrupt and control this world's human kings more efficiently than the elves (he didn't help to make that trio) and the dwarves (he had a hand in those rings' creation, but their corrupting influence isn't as strong as he'd hoped).

It's unclear who'll receive the rings, though. In LotR's canon, Khamûl the Easterling is the only named individual who's gets one, so Payne and McKay have the creative freedom to choose the other eight wearers. He's not a king, but our money is on one of them going to season 2's slimiest character in Kemen, i.e. Pharazôn's son.

Sauron won't have everything going his way in The Rings of Power season 3. After regrouping at what appears to be the location that Rivendell will eventually be built upon, Gil-galad, Galadriel, Elrond, and Arondir rally Eregion and Lindon's remaining forces to halt Sauron's victory procession across Eriador. This marks the official start of The War of the Elves and Sauron, a centuries-long conflict where both sides trade telling blows and devastating losses as they vie for peace and world domination respectively.

As mentioned, the war will be in full swing by the start of season 3, so one of the best Prime Video shows' writing team won't spend too long on setting it up. I still expect to see key battles that play out during this conflict, however, including the hugely important Battle of the Gwathló.

Moving away from the elves, two major dwarven plot threads remain unresolved after season 2's finale. The first involves finding a permanent successor to King Durin III and, while many expected Prince Durin IV to become Khazad-dûm's new monarch, his brother – Durin IV doesn't have a sibling in Tolkien's works, FYI – is also eyeing the subterranean kingdom's royal seat.

But Durin IV has an ace up his sleeve in the dwarven rings. He previously promised his wife, Princess Disa, that he'd never use or wear them but, with his brother garnering support from numerous dwarf lords, Durin and Disa may need to revisit that pact to sway some of his brother's supporters to their cause. Whether that means using the rings themselves or gifting them to the other lords, is unclear.

Aside from the familial melodrama, there's also the ever-looming danger of Durin's Bane. It's likely that, following King Durin III's sacrifice, it'll be trapped for the rest of the show. However, The Rings of Power has taken creative liberties with Tolkien's works, so it could rear its ugly head in future seasons.

Over in Rhûn and Middle-earth's eastern regions, Nori and Gandalf have gone their separate ways. After finding his staff, learning his real name, and reuniting with Tom Bombadil, the latter is ready to master his abilities ahead of his forthcoming showdowns with The Dark Wizard and Sauron. Meanwhile, Nori has headed off for pastures new with Poppy and the Stoor community. We're not sure whether we'll see the latter again, but a reunion between Nori and Gandalf hasn't been ruled out by their actors. It's possible their storyline has been split in two and we'll follow both characters on their individual paths next season.

Moving back west, there'll be plenty of familial and civil war-based drama to come in the realms of men. Indeed, Númenor and Pelargir are set to be the stages upon which more political infighting, not to mention actual battles, will play out.

Where Númenor is concerned, Elendil – with the legendary sword Narsil in hand – has fled Armenelos to rally The Faithful, i.e. those still loyal to the elves and the Valar (Middle-earth's angels, essentially), who haven't been imprisoned by the false king Pharazôn. One of those captives is Queen Regent Míriel, who's been accused of working alongside Sauron. However, I'm not sure if, as in the source material, she'll be forced to marry Pharazôn as a Hail Mary move to preserve the peace between The Faithful and The King's Men (those loyal to Pharazôn). Oh, and let's not forget that Isildur is finally on his way back to Númenor. I wonder what he'll make of everything that's happened on the island since he was last there...

Meanwhile, Kemen and a legion of Númenórean soldiers have taken control of Pelargir and are now overseeing the production of a vast fleet of ships for his father. I won't spoil why they're being built, but let's just say it ties into Númenor's eventual downfall. Anyway, based on how this storyline ended in season 2, I don't think it'll be long before Theo, Estrid, and the rest of the Southlands' refugees – maybe with a little help from the Ents they ran into last season, too? – revolt against their newly installed superiors in The Rings of Power season 3.

Is The Rings of Power season 3 going to be the last one?

Before The Rings of Power's first season aired, Payne and McKay told Time magazine they had a five-season plan in mind. However, discussing season 2 with TechRadar in late August, they kept referring to the show as a "multi-season" project.

Does this slight change in terminology mean that five-season blueprint has been revised down to four? In short: no. Speaking to Variety, Amazon's chief of TV Jennifer Salke said the show's creative team and Prime Video's executives haven't deviated from the 50-episode commitment they have for this show. With seasons 1 and 2 containing eight episodes apiece, there are still 34 episodes' worth of story still to be told. Considering The Rings of Power is one of Prime Video's most-watched TV Originals, it seems Amazon is in for the long haul with it, too.

For more Prime Video TV show-related coverage, read our guides on Fallout season 2, The Boys season 5, and Mr and Mrs Smith season 2.