Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn Elessar in director Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
Andy Serkis says they’re looking for a new actor to play Aragorn.
Viggo Mortensen is not returning to the role for ‘The Hunt for Gollum’.
The movie will shoot in New Zealand this year.
Though ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ features some of the familiar key creative types behind the scenes (including Andy Serkis directing and playing the titular creature and franchise overseer Peter Jackson producing), there will be a key change in front of the camera.
News arrives that Viggo Mortensen, who played the heroic, destiny-heavy Aragorn in the first three ‘LOTR’ movies, is not reprising the role for ‘Gollum’.
“I don’t know what’s out there at the moment, but I know there’s a lot of speculation, but let’s just say we are recasting the role and we are on the way to finding someone.”
While Mortensen won’t be back, Kate Winslet has joined the cast and original franchise stalwarts Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood and others are all rumored to return.
When will ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ be on screens?
Warner Bros. and New Line currently have a December 17, 2027 slot ready for this one.
(L to R) Sean Austin, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
List of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Movies and TV Shows:
‘The Late Show’ host Stephen Colbert will co-write a ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie.
He’ll work with his son, Peter McGee, and Philippa Boyens.
The working title is ‘The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past’.
While he’s a well-known Tolkien scholar and ‘Lord of the Rings’ superfan (who had a cameo in one of the ‘Hobbit’ movies), we still didn’t expect to see comedian and late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert actually writing a movie set in the world of Middle-earth.
What’s the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the past’?
(L to R) Sean Austin, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Here’s Colbert talking about the movie:
“The thing I found myself reading over and over again were the six chapters early on in ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ that y’all never developed into the first movie back in the day. It’s basically chapters ‘Three Is Company’ through ‘Fog on the Barrow-downs,’ and I thought, Oh wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story. Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made?”
Andy Serkis as Gollum in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Right now, the next ‘Rings’ movie to start production will be the Andy Serkis-directed ‘The Hunt for Gollum’, which has a December 17, 2027 release date on the books.
(Left) Kate Winslet stars in ‘Lee’. (Right) Andy Serkis as Gollum in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Preview:
Kate Winslet’s in talks to star in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’.
Andy Serkis is directing and playing a spindly creature.
The movie will shoot in New Zealand this year.
There’s an exciting update following 2024’s news of Gollum acting veteran Andy Serkis stepping into the director’s chair for a new ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie.
With the movie set to shoot across several months this year in New Zealand, Winslet will be relocating to film her scenes.
She joins Serkis (who is back in the performance capture gear once again to bring Gollum to life) and a rumored Elijah Wood (as Frodo) and Ian McKellen (as Gandalf).
What’s the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’?
Andy Serkis as Gollum in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Deadline’s latest report brings fresh plot details: the new film follows Aragorn’s perilous quest to capture Gollum before the creature can reveal the Ring’s location to Sauron.
There’s no word yet on whether Viggo Mortensen will be back as Aragorn, but Peter Jackson’s involvement as producer will surely entice as many of the original cast (who make sense, and feature in the story) back as needed.
When will ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ be on screens?
Warner Bros. and New Line currently have a December 17, 2027 release slot ready for this one.
(L to R) Sean Austin, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
List of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Movies and TV Shows:
‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ producer Philippa Boyens.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and producer Philippa Boyens about ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’, returning to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, her vast knowledge of his work, the source material that inspired the movie, and the challenges of making an animated ‘Lord of the Rings’ film.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Boyens, Gai Wise, Laurence Ubong Williams, and director Kenji Kamiyama.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was it like for you to return to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien and how did your vast knowledge of his work help inform you while making this animated movie?
Philippa Boyens: It’s been a joy going back. It’s been kind of a gentler sort of dipping my foot back in the waters kind of moment than having to stare down the barrel of a big, huge epic trilogy. So that was nice. Also getting to work with Kenji Kamiyama, who I think is a genius visual master, has been lovely because he had such a sense of what he wanted to reach for, but he was also, at the same time, collaborative. He’s a writer himself, and so that made the process of finding these characters, the process of looking at the pace of the film and the storytelling feel natural. He had a natural facility with it. So that side of it was easy. In terms of coming back into the world and bringing what knowledge I had of it with me, it was a sort of a little bit of a mixed bag. Because, sure, I had a depth of knowledge of how Tolkien tends to work on film, that heightened language and how to kind of use it, and what felt authentic and what didn’t feel authentic. Then said against that, I had absolutely zero understanding of anime, except beyond what a normal person would have received as an audience member. So that was a big learning curve for me, but it was kind of wonderful to experience. I must be honest and say there were lots of times when I would look at the boards and I was like, “I don’t know what I’m looking at. What am I looking at? I don’t understand.” There’s a different rhythm to cutting things in anime, which I’ve now fallen in love with and understand that process. I was coming very much with a live action eye, and then you begin to understand, “Oh wait, anime doesn’t work that way,” and that it’s more of a dance. It’s a dance that requires you to truly understand the form that you’re working in and that the way in which, you’re not going to be able to push in on live expression or eyes. So, it’s how Kamiyama moves the camera, how he moves the characters in relation to each other. Then I became obsessed with it because I would see these boards come to life, and it was slightly miraculous, and it was all so beautifully hand drawn.
MF: Finally, can you talk about creating the story for ‘The War of the Rohirrim’ and specifically what source material you drew from?
PB: So, we went into the appendices. Once they had asked us what we think about anime, this story immediately popped up into my mind. I went back to the appendices where there’s about two pages with a little bit more spread in a couple of other places in the appendices of this story of Helm Hammerhand. At the heart of this story, or at the very beginning of the conflict of this story, is an unnamed female character and, of course, immediately your mind starts thinking, “Wow, what if we named her? What if we followed her? What if we explored what she was going through?” Because she is the beginning of the conflict of the story. She starts as this point of contention between these two great Rohirrim Lords. One is a king, one is a pretender, probably, to the throne, or at least would see his son on that throne, and she has no agency in this moment. So, it was immediately, “Well, what would she feel? What is she thinking?” Then our next approach was to go back into some of the histories of women in medieval times, women who would’ve reflected some of the Anglo-Saxon nature of the Rohirric people that Professor Tolkien would’ve drawn threads from. As soon as we did that, there was a wealth of characters and women that you could look at and draw upon, and it just started to grow. I think a great story does that. It grows in the telling. Professor Tolkien, literally, said that himself. It’s the tale that grew in the telling.
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What’s the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’?
‘The War of the Rohirrim’ adapts a story from the history of the kingdom of Rohan, described by writer J.R.R. Tolkien in the appendices to ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
This movie is set around 200 years before the War of the Ring, a.k.a. the conflict against Sauron detailed in Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ films.
We’re introduced to the legendary king known as Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox). When Freca (Shaun Dooley), the chieftain of neighboring Dunland proposes that his son Wulf (Luke Pasqualino) wed Helm’s daughter Hèra (Gaia Wise), Helm reacts badly. He strikes Freca dead with a single punch and Wulf vows revenge.
A few years later, Wulf returns with an army of Dunlendings, and brings Rohan to its knees. Helm and his people seek refuge in the fortress that will one day be named Helm’s Deep in his honor.
Who is in the voice cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’?
And talking of the movies, which were produced and directed by Peter Jackson, we can expect future films from him and his collaborators in the future (more on that below).
That’s not all. In a new interview, Phillipa Boyens, who is a writer and producer on not just the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ movies, but also helped crafted the story for new animated spin-off film ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,’ talked up the possibility for other ideas coming to our screens.
What did Phillipa Boyens have to say about potentially more ‘LOTR’ movies?
‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ producer Philippa Boyens.
Boyens, who has been a key part of the ‘Rings’ movie team for years, sat down to discuss ‘War of the Rohirrim’ in particular and signaled that if the anime story is embraced by audiences, we could be seeing future stand-alone entries.
“There’s a lot of possibilities, when you look at it, there’s a lot of things in there, actually,” she said. “One of the things this ‘War of the Rohirrim’ story has shown us is that a stand-alone story works really successfully within the world of Middle-earth, and I would genuinely — because I’ve fallen in love with the form — love to see another anime. But that depends on the audiences out there, your audience, fans of not only the original trilogy, but that vast anime audience. I’m really interested to see what they think.”
Boyens also said that the ‘LOTR’ team has a wealth of ideas to work on, many stand-alone films, potential sequels to ‘War of the Rohirrim,’ and another, larger, more epic trilogy in the vein of the original ‘LOTR’ films.
Here’s her comment on that:
“So we’re in the audiences hands. If there’s an appetite for it, we’ve got more stories. There’s a ton of stories left to be told there and some really, really interesting ones. But my preference would be, after ‘The Hunt For Gollum,’ would be to look at those stand-alone stories. And then if we got really ambitious — there are some epic, particular stories that could translate into that more traditional epic trilogy format that was the original ‘Lord Of The Rings,’ the war of the rings story.”
Who is making the new ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies?
Peter Jackson, multiple Academy Award winner for his work on “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” poses with one of his Oscars in the press room during the 76th Annual Academy Awards from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 29, 2004. Credit/Provider: HO. Copyright: AMPAS.
Did you catch that mention of ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ in Boyens’ last statement? Yes, they are making more movies! Here’s what we know about that…
Chief among the new team is one Peter Jackson –– you know, the man who brought J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories of Hobbits, Elves and other creatures to pop cultural behemoth status with his original trilogy of movies and then the ‘Hobbit’ adaptations.
While it appears that Jackson is not currently planning to direct either of the new planned live-action films, he will be deeply involved in the movies’ development.
Working alongside him, as they have since the beginning, are collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who will write the scripts for the films.
And another key player in the ‘LOTR’ franchise, Andy Serkis –– who regularly squeezed into performance capture suits to play slinky Ring-coveter Gollum, is also back, and he’s aboard to direct the first confirmed movie, which is perhaps fittingly (working) titled ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’.
Serkis will also be getting back into his performance capture rig to star as the titular creature.
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What’s the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’?
Andy Serkis as Gollum in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Warner Bros. wouldn’t be drawn on specifics just yet, but let’s be honest… It kind of speaks for itself. And there is at least one section of Tolkien’s work that focuses on just such a search (Aragorn is the unlucky person tasked with tracking down the riddle-spinner).
New ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies: The Creatives Speak
Peter Jackson accepts the Academy Award for Best Picture for “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” during the 76th Annual Academy Awards from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 29, 2004. Credit/Provider: HO. Copyright: AMPAS.
Here’s Jackson, Walsh and Boyes’ statement on their return:
“It is an honor and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that stinker — Gollum. As life-long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”
And here’s Serkis:
“Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle-earth Peter, Fran and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our film making family in New Zealand, it’s just all too delicious… .”
When will ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ be in theaters?
‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,’ which tells how the legendary fortress of Helm’s Deep (seen in ‘The Two Towers’) got its name during a clash between tribes, will be in cinemas from December 13th.
More directly connected to Jackson’s adaptations than Prime Video’s ‘The Rings of Power,’ ‘Rohirrim’ takes as its basis a small chunk of J.R.R. Tolkien’s appendices, which detail a clash between forces that happens nearly 200 years before Frodo and co. enter the story.
If you’re a fan of Peter Jackson’s work who didn’t find ‘Rings of Power’ to be the Tolkien hit you needed (though the TV series has plenty to recommend it), ‘The War of the Rohirrim’ could be what you’re after.
It’s crafted in a style that should make fans of Miyazaki films in particular happy, and while the story is a fair bit more basic than anything from Studio Ghibli, it hits the right notes in terms of scale and adventure.
Script and Direction
‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ producer Philippa Boyens.
The writers here have expanded upon what little about the earlier Rohirrim conflict they can, seizing on the unnamed warrior woman who is mentioned, and fleshing her out into the headstrong Hèra. She’s your archetypal, spirited young woman –– raised by a warrior king, she can ride a horse and swing a sword with the best of them, but is still limited by what she’s able to do (initially, at least) thanks to growing up in a patriarchal society.
It’s a thematic idea that will likely have plenty of resonance for at least a swathe of the audience, while those who are here for some ‘Rings’–style action will also find what they’re looking for. The story even has some nuance and unexpected moments layered within a fairly standard story of fighting feudal types and mystical creatures.
As director, Kenji Kamiyama guides his animation and technical team to impressively epic results, the sweeping landscapes of New Zealand (standing in, of course for Middle-Earth) are brought to life in effective form, while the characters are recognizably a blend of Tolkien and anime.
Performances
There is some impressive voice acting going on here, and while the focus is on a few characters, most of them have the chance to be rounded personalities.
Our main hero in the story, Wise makes Hèra a properly spirited young woman, who has a loving core but shields it with honor and practicality. She has a somewhat predictable arc, but she’s always compelling.
Aside from Wise, Pasqualino has the most to do –– he’s in love with childhood friend Hèra, but his feelings curdle after his father is effectively punched to death by hers in front of him. He makes for a solid, sometimes surprising villain in the Tolkien mold of ambition turned to darker emotions.
Ashbourne (who has a connection to the ‘Rings’ movies already since she’s married to Gollum actor Andy Serkis) is impressive as Hèra’s guardian, who reveals herself to be more than she initially appears (we won’t spoil it).
Miranda Otto narrates the opening chunk of the movie, letting us know where the story is set and introducing both Hèra and the concept of Shieldmaidens. The casting makes sense, since this is a return for Éowyn, as played by Otto in the ‘LOTR’ movies and feels like the character relating a story she herself would have heard. The rest of the ensemble all do good work bringing their various characters to life.
The story of a young woman whose exploits will be all but ignored by those who write the sagas about her family are certainly timely, and the movie brings Tolkien’s mythical tales back to the screen in a way that should please fans of the movies.
It’s sometimes a little trope-heavy and there is a weird quirk where half the family has strong Northern English accents, whereas Hèra and some others speak more neutrally. It’s a minor quibble, though, for a film that should tide us all over until the Jackson-produced and promised future movies arrive.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’?
‘The War of the Rohirrim’ adapts a story from the history of the kingdom of Rohan, described by writer J.R.R. Tolkien in the appendices to ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
This movie is set around 200 years before the War of the Ring, a.k.a. the conflict against Sauron detailed in Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ films.
We’re introduced to the legendary king known as Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox). When Freca (Shaun Dooley), the chieftain of neighboring Dunland proposes that his son Wulf (Luke Pasqualino) wed Helm’s daughter Hèra (Gaia Wise), Helm reacts badly. He strikes Freca dead with a single punch and Wulf vows revenge.
A few years later, Wulf returns with an army of Dunlendings, and brings Rohan to its knees. Helm and his people seek refuge in the fortress that will one day be named Helm’s Deep in his honor.
Who is in the voice cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’?
With ‘LOTR’ and ‘The Hobbit’ movie trilogy filmmaker Peter Jackson producing the new output (more on that below), things are clearly in the works.
And now Sir Ian McKellen, the venerable British actor who so memorably played wizard Gandalf the Grey (and Gandalf the White) in Jackson’s movies, has spoken to magazine The Big Issue about his potential return to the franchise.
What has Ian McKellen said about possibly returning as Gandalf?
Ian McKellen as Gandalf in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Here’s what McKellen had to say:
“I’ve just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I’ll be playing him. When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So they better be quick!”
And he’s only partly joking, since the 82-year-old is recuperating from a nasty fall while performing on stage in England, and the injuries he sustained have him in a reflective mood.
This was what he said about his status:
“I’m left feeling weak physically, which I’m doing exercises for. And, of course, it’s emotional. We all trip all our lives, it’s just when you get to my age you can’t always get up again. I’m just trying to convince myself it was an accident. I’m usually working or preparing to work, I’ve been doing a little bit of that, wondering what might be the best plan. I’m going to take the rest of the year off. Not because I need to, just because I want to.”
While it appears that Peter Jackson is not currently planning to direct either film, he will be deeply involved in the movies’ development.
Working alongside him, as they have since the beginning, are collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who will write the scripts for the films.
And another key player in the ‘LOTR’ franchise, Andy Serkis –– who regularly squeezed into performance capture suits to play slinky Ring-coveter Gollum, is also back, and he’s aboard to direct the first confirmed movie, which is perhaps fittingly (working) titled ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’.
Serkis will also be getting back into his performance capture rig to star as the titular creature.
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What’s the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’?
Andy Serkis as Gollum in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’. Photo: New Line Cinema.
Warner Bros. wouldn’t be drawn on specifics just yet, but let’s be honest… It kind of speaks for itself. And there is at least one section of Tolkien’s work that focuses on just such a search (Aragorn is the unlucky person tasked with tracking down the riddle-spinner).
As for the other movie? That’s even more of a mystery for now, but the studio has said it’ll dig into unexplored stories.
When will the new ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies be in theaters?
The plan for at least one of the new movies is for it to be in theaters by 2026.
But before any of the in-development projects come to fruition, we’ll see animated outing ‘The War of the Rohirrim’ landing in theaters on December 13th.
Ian McKellen as Gandalf in ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Other ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Movies and TV Shows:
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
Returning for its second season with three episodes via Prime Video on August 29th, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ continues to largely justify the huge amounts of cash Amazon splashed on the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s “secondary material” for stories set long before the timelines of ‘The Hobbit’ or the main ‘Rings’ narrative.
And reassuringly, the second season actually shows a welcome jump in momentum.
Does ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 have some magic?
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
The first season might be best described as scene-setting or like an orchestra tuning up before launching into the overture ahead of the main performance. There were myriad characters to introduce and storylines to set up, a difficult juggling act that meant a few were left somewhat wanting.
As Season 2 dawns, there is a lot more in place and storylines can continue (albeit with one or two confusing time jumps, especially when it comes to Charlie Vickers’ Sauron, whose plot appears to have been thrown in a blender in terms of where we are with him at any one point in the initial two episodes.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Gavi Singh Chera as Merimac, Megan Richards as Poppy, Markella Kavenagh as Nori, Tanya Moodie as Gundabel in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ross Ferguson / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
The balancing act is back for Season 2, but showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay lead their writing team down some solid paths, with the most urgent catch-ups (particularly with Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel and Vickers’ own story as Sauron schemes) fore fronted in the initial story.
It feels like the collected writer/producers have a better idea this year on how to let the various strands breathe, even as they introduce new characters and complications for our heroes.
A switch in filming locations from New Zealand to the U.K. has not diminished the epic scope and scale of the series, which, while it can’t always rival Peter Jackson’s cinematic visions, still makes the world vivid and large.
Season 2 directors Charlotte Brändström (who returns from working on the first), Sanaa Hamri and Louise Hooper keep the show looking great (with just the occasional hint of misty CG work).
Performances
Though not every performance can have the charm and power of the leads, the ensemble all work hard to bring their characters to life.
Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ross Ferguson / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
The anchor of the show (alongside perhaps Vickers), Clark continues to impress as elf warrior (and future mystic) Galadriel. Though viewers might sometimes share her frustration that few of the elves around her share her concerns when it comes to the very real threat of Sauron, Clark is never less than compelling.
Charlie Vickers as Sauron
Charlie Vickers as Sauron in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
Even more than Clark, Vickers gets a lot to chew on as the Dark Lord; seductive and sometimes serene, he’s once more given various different shades of Sauron to play and does well by them all.
Daniel Weyman as The Stranger in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
No one is still saying the G-word yet (that would be “Gandalf” for anyone unaware), but there is plenty of talk about names in the initial couple of episodes. On his quest with Harfoots Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards), he’s still something of a mystery, but is brought into contact with a new threat (more on that below).
(L to R) Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV and Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
Nomvete continues to be a highlight of the show; her interactions with husband Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) and, indeed anyone she comes into contact with are a delight. She brings such energy and humor to the role, the perfect combination of performer and script.
Other notable characters
While we won’t discuss exactly who he’s playing, Ciaran Hinds makes a solid debut as a mystery new character who promises to cause trouble for The Stranger. Ditto Ben Daniels, who plays an elf (but again, we won’t specify who) to great effect.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Robert Aramayo as Elrond; Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
If Season One was figuring out what the show needed to be, Season 2 represents the creators really able to run with the idea, having worked out some of the kinks. A few remain –– not every character works, but the vast majority are entertaining, and the show remains very watchable even if you sometimes have to consult a web guide to remind yourself who everyone is and how they fit into the sprawling lore.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2?
In Season Two of ‘The Rings of Power’, Sauron (Charlie Vickers) has returned. Cast out by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-Earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2?
(L to R) Charles Edwards and Charlie Vicker star in Prime Video’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Charlie Vickers and Charles Edwards about their work on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2, laying the groundwork for Sauron in season one and exploring the character in season two, Celebrimbor’s motivations, if he will be corrupted by the power of the rings, and what it means to them personally to be part of the show.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Vickers, Edwards, Daniel Weyman, Markella Kavenaugh, Megan Richards, Benjamin Walker, and Ismael Cruz Cordova.
Charlie Vickers as Sauron in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
Moviefone: To begin with, Charlie, can you talk about laying the groundwork for Sauron in season one and having the opportunity to explore the character in season two?
Charlie Vickers: I think the easiest way I can articulate it is in season one, the groundwork was all laid because we were kind of guessing where Sauron was. I was still playing ultimately the same character with all the same research, different on the outside, but in the perspective of the show, I was having Sauron moments when the camera was pointed at Galadriel. This season you shift perspective, and you get let into his private world. Obviously, there’s a whole bunch of internal character development things that have happened by being with this character for such a long time, but now the perspective has shifted. We kind of get let in. The door is ajar for us as the audience.
MF: Since Sauron disguises himself as other people, has it felt like you were playing more than one character and how do you approach that?
CV: Yeah, it has been. I mean, ultimately Halbrand and Annatar are both Sauron, but the second season we changed a lot, not only just with the makeup team and the costume team, but I worked a lot with Leith McPherson, our dialect coach, on a new accent and dialect and with a movement coach as well to try and work out the way he moves. So, it has been a development of a completely different character on the outside but maintains a lot of the same internal motivation.
(L to R) Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor, Amelia Kenworhty as Mirdania in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
MF: Charles, can you talk about where we last saw Celebrimbor in season one and where we find him and what he’s dealing with in season two?
Charles Edwards: When we left him, he’s created something which he hopes is going to be amazing at the end of season one. But we have no confirmation of that going into season two so he’s still in that kind of inertia of waiting and not having any information about what’s happened to that. So, he’s built his fantastic new forge, which is an amazing place to work by the way. That set is extraordinary. But with no direction, he doesn’t know which step to take next. But then someone shows up who’s going to perhaps help him with that. We find him in kind of slightly adrift at the beginning of season two, but then he is seized by a new energy when he reconnects with Halbrand.
MF: Is he susceptible to the power of the rings and how will he avoid being corrupted?
CE: I think he certainly is. I think he’s susceptible to all kinds of things. Sauron/Annatar, is very good at seeking out the kind of chinks in his armor. Yes, he’s very susceptible to pride, to ambition, to flattery, and yes, to the rings.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
MF: Finally, Charlie, what has it been like for you to be on a series as large in scope as this and really have an opportunity to explore the world J. R. R. Tolkien created?
CV: It’s been incredible. I think there’s two aspects. You have it as a human being, like as an actor. The first time I stepped onto the set it’s scary and it’s surprising how quickly you get used to that, and it sort of begins to feel like, certainly in the second season it felt, I was more comfortable with it. But it’s a joy as an actor to be able to have such a rich world to not only play in, but to research out playing canon characters. There is just so much stuff to inspire us, whether it’s Tolkien’s books or it’s all these amazing adaptations that range from movies to video games to cartoons.
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What is the plot of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2?
In Season Two of ‘The Rings of Power’, Sauron (Charlie Vickers) has returned. Cast out by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-Earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2?
The show is back on our screens late next month, and to keep that idea in our collective brains, the show brought a big group of its cast, plus showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, to talk up the series and offer some fresh footage.
Part of the presentation included the new trailer, which you can find above.
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What’s the story of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2?
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
Here’s the official synopsis for Season 2:
“Sauron (Charlie Vickers) has returned. Cast out by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. The new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.”
The trailer certainly hammers that point home, showing the divisions between certain characters and the unity that will need to be shown if they’re to defeat the threat from Sauron (Vickers), now in elf form, and pushing Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) to create the rings that will entice, control and ultimately endanger the various races.
What did we learn from the ‘Rings of Power’ panel?
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
The panel didn’t offer much in the way of giant revelations, though it did include a couple of behind the scenes featurettes looking at the practical effects work behind the forging of the rings (and concept artwork from legendary artist John Howe), and some of the new ‘Rings’ creatures we can expect to see in the show, including wraiths.
Also on the beast front, Shelob the spider will make an experience (or possibly a relative), and there was a glimpse of a balrog.
As the trailer makes clear, the show also shows the first proper look at the Entwives, the female companions of the tree-life Ent creatures.
Here’s what co-showrunner Payne said to expect in Season 2:
“Sauron is afoot. There’s trouble. There’s danger. There’s death and battle.”
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Ismael Cruz Córdova, who plays Silvan Elf Arondir, named his sword “Rihanna”. Just because.
Did we learn any future details about the show?
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
While the panel’s main section was limited to talking about Season 2, the fan question time did allow for some more forward-looking speculation, including that we can expect to meet pivotal elf Glorfindel later in the series’ run and that the question of Theo’s (Tyroe Muhafidin) biological parentage will be answered… eventually.
When will ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2 be on screens?
Prime Video is launching Season 2 of the series on August 29th with its first episode.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2. Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon MGM Studios.
Movies and TV Shows in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Franchise:
