The Lord of the Rings Season 3 First Look: New image revealed – premiere date now set
The new episodes of The Rings of Power will be released on Amazon Prime Video later this year
It's now official: The third season of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" will premiere on November 11, 2026, on Amazon Prime Video. The launch announcement was officially made ahead of Amazon's presentation at the Upfronts in New York City, as reported by Variety. It had already been reported that the third season was set to premiere earlier than expected. Originally, a release next year had been anticipated. However, a source close to the production recently revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that it would begin even sooner. As is now definitively clear, the source was correct.
But that's not all: on top of that, a first-look photo for the third season has been released. The new image shows the antagonist Sauron, played by Charlie Vickers. The villain is seen from behind. However, the crown he wears in the photo is clearly visible. Of course, Sauron will also play an important role in the new episodes of the fantasy series. The series is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth – and thus thousands of years before Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films. The focus is on the creation of the titular rings and the rise of Sauron. Some details about the plot of the third season of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" are already known. The new episodes are set to take place several years after the events of Season Two: at the height of the war between the Elves and Sauron.
The Rings of Power: It's been a while since season two
It's been a while since the most recent episode of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." The season two finale was already available on Amazon Prime Video in October 2024. The new season will feature a reunion with familiar faces. In addition to Charlie Vickers as Sauron, Morfydd Clark as Galadriel and Robert Aramayo as Elrond are also back on board. New additions include Eddie Marsan, Andrew Richardson, Zubin Varla, Adam Young, and Jamie Campbell Bower, who made a name for himself as a star of the horror series "Stranger Things." The showrunners for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" are J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay. The two are also on board as executive producers alongside Lindsey Weber, Justin Doble, and Kate Hazell, as well as director Charlotte Brandström.
According to Amazon, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is one of the biggest hits on Prime Video. A press release highlights, among other things, the launch of the first season in 2022: According to Amazon, the first season is the most successful series premiere in the history of Prime Video. Meanwhile, the second season is also impressive, ranking among the top 5 most-watched sequel seasons of all time, according to the company.
The Lord of the Rings: Two new movies in the works
However, the third season of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" isn't the only thing fans of the fantasy saga can look forward to. Two new films are also currently in the works. "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" expands on the events from Peter Jackson's first "Lord of the Rings" film, "The Fellowship of the Ring," released in 2001. As the title suggests, the search for Gollum will be the central focus. "The Hunt for Gollum" is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.
In addition, another film is currently in development: "The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past" is set 14 years after the passing of Frodo. Sam, Merry, and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam's daughter Elanor discovers a long-kept secret and wants to find out why the War of the Ring was almost lost before it had even begun. Unlike "The Hunt for Gollum," however, "Shadow of the Past" does not yet have a release date. We'll keep you posted!
