Get ready to learn the backstories of some of Middle-earth’s scariest villains! The third season of Prime Video’s series arrives this fall, taking viewers straight into the epic war between the Elves and Sauron that happened thousands of years ago.
Season 3 of The Rings of Power has a lot to offer fans! We’ll finally meet Celeborn, played by Jamie Campbell Bower (known from Stranger Things), and there’s buzz that we’ll see the creation of the One Ring. But perhaps most thrilling is the return of the Ringwraiths – those frightening villains from the original movies who were once powerful kings now twisted to serve Sauron.
The Rings of Power Is Finally Exploring the Ringwraiths
The new series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, reveals the very first Ringwraiths and how they came to be. Before they became the terrifying figures seen in Peter Jackson’s movies during the War of the Ring, they were once Men – specifically, kings who were given nine powerful rings by Sauron. These kings let Sauron corrupt them completely, turning them into immortal, shadowy creatures.
The shadowy Ringwraiths always foreshadowed the central story of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Season one focused on Sauron’s return and the making of the Three rings for the Elves. Season two showed how he crafted the Seven rings for the Dwarves, ending with him tricking Celebrimbor into creating the Nine. The last episode of season two suggested Sauron would now seek nine human kings – a plan that seems to come to fruition in season three.
The upcoming season of The Rings of Power will jump forward in time, placing the story right in the middle of the war between the Elves and Sauron. We’ll see the Ringwraiths fully transformed into the Black Riders familiar from the films – they’ve apparently had their rings for years by this point. While they’re still human during most of the season, that may be starting to change as the war continues.
It’s a thrilling time for fans of The Lord of the Rings, especially those curious about the Nazgûl! J.R.R. Tolkien didn’t share much detail about who these nine figures originally were, only that they were once important people – kings, warriors, and possibly even descendants of Númenor. Their true identities have remained a mystery… until now.
The upcoming series promises to finally reveal the complete history and identities of the Ringwraiths, solving a mystery that has intrigued fans of Tolkien’s work for years. Viewers can also anticipate learning more about the Witch-king of Angmar – the terrifying leader of the Ringwraiths – including his role in the Battle of Pelennor Fields and his ultimate defeat by Éowyn.
The showrunners aren’t revealing much about what the Nazgûl will be up to this season, but we can anticipate finding out more details as the premiere approaches.
What to Expect from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3
Season 3 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power promises to be its most action-filled season so far. Picking up years after the end of Season 2, the story finds Middle-earth at war with Sauron, who has already gathered allies to support his cause.
Honestly, it’s frustrating to see even the good guys still having trouble working together! The Dwarves of Khazad-dúm are still not really trusted by Elves and Men – can’t anyone appreciate a solid craftsman? Their new king, Durin IV, is doing his best to live up to his father’s legacy, which is tough. And the Elves… well, they’re taking the worst of it in this war, but even they know they can’t keep fighting forever. Things are really going downhill over in Númenor too; a new government has plunged them into trouble, though some incredible heroes are at least stepping up to fight.
Each season of The Rings of Power has focused on the creation of the Rings of Power. Season one showed the Elven rings being made, and season two covered the forging of the rings for Dwarves and Men. Following this pattern, the upcoming third season will likely depict the creation of Sauron’s all-powerful One Ring. This event will be a major moment for the show, portraying a pivotal event in Middle-earth’s history.
The Future of The Lord of the Rings Franchise, Explained
The world of The Lord of the Rings is returning to prominence with a new chapter for fans. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is the first live-action story from this universe since The Hobbit films ended in 2014. After more than ten years, several new movies are planned to re-establish The Lord of the Rings as the leading fantasy franchise.
A new movie called The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is in production. It takes place during the early part of The Fellowship of the Ring and focuses on the quest to find Gollum and discover what he knows about the One Ring. Andy Serkis is back as Gollum, and he’s also directing the film, which is being shot in New Zealand.
Many beloved characters will be back for the new installment, such as Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Elijah Wood as Frodo. The cast also includes new actors like Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winslet, and Jamie Dornan, who will be taking on the role of Aragorn, previously played by Viggo Mortensen.
A new spin-off series is in development, taking place during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. Titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past, the show will draw upon chapters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s book that weren’t included in Peter Jackson’s films. Stephen Colbert is writing the series with his son, Peter McGee, and Philippa Boyens. Details are scarce, but early reports suggest the story will focus on a new adventure in the Old Forest.
Currently, only two films are officially confirmed as being in production, but we likely haven’t seen the last of them. Reports suggest Peter Jackson is discussing a deal with the Tolkien Estate to obtain the rights to adapt The Silmarillion, which expands on the history and mythology of Middle-earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The family has always been reluctant to sell the rights to their father’s incomplete novel, but if they changed their minds, it could lead to many – potentially dozens – of movies based on the early history of Middle-earth.
The popular series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, is still in production, taking place during the Second Age of Middle-earth. A third season will premiere in November, and the show is planned to continue with fourth and fifth seasons as well. The fifth season is expected to conclude the story with the epic final battle of the War of the Last Alliance.
New episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 will begin streaming on November 11, 2026, with a premiere featuring four episodes.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum hits theaters on December 17, 2027.
2026-07-29 13:10