Everything you need to know about The Rings of Power S3

Season 3 of The Rings of Power is officially confirmed and already filmed, even though Prime Video has not yet announced a precise release date. It promises to be a major turning point for the series, focusing on the great war of the Elves against Sauron and especially on the forging of the One Ring.

Official Status, Filming, and Anticipated Release Date

• Amazon MGM Studios has officially ordered a season 3, in line with the “five-season plan” mentioned by Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, as early as 2022.
  
  
• Writing for Season 3 was already underway in 2024, and the series was formally renewed in early 2025.
  
  
• Filming for Season 3 took place in the United Kingdom, following the production's move after Season 1 was filmed in New Zealand.
  
  
• Production for Season 3 was announced as completed (wrapped) at the end of 2025, meaning post-production is ongoing in 2026.

At this stage, there is no official release date: several specialized media outlets suggest it won't air before 2027, due to the very heavy post-production time (visual effects, music, localization). Prime Video remains silent on the exact schedule, but everything indicates a rather long wait between seasons 2 and 3.

Period of History: Major Time Skip and Open War

The showrunners designed The Rings of Power as a five-season epic, each structured around major "key moments" of the History of the Second Age as known in Tolkien's work.

For Season 3, several elements converge:

• Season 3 takes place several years after the end of Season 2, with a significant time skip.
  
  
• It is set at the heart of the War of the Elves and Sauron, when the Dark Lord attempts to subjugate Eregion, Lindon, and more broadly the Free Peoples.
  
  
• Sauron is expected to be in a position of great power, leading Orc armies and already in possession of the Nine Rings given to Men.

Basically, if Season 2 lays the groundwork with the Siege of Eregion and Sauron's rise to power under the identity of Annatar, Season 3 plunges into total war and prepares for the great catastrophes of the Second Age.

Plot: The Forging of the One Ring and the (Forced) Union of the Free Peoples

Although Amazon has not yet released a very detailed official synopsis, several points consistently appear in official announcements, interviews, and credible leaks:

• Forging of the One Ring : Season 3 will show Sauron forging the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, in Mordor.
  
  
• Direct continuation of the Season 2 finale : The season will pick up after a finale where Galadriel and Sauron clashed, with the latter now controlling the Nine and an army of Orcs.
  
  
• Rallying of the Elves : Weakened by the siege of Eregion, the Elves (Galadriel, Elrond, Gil-galad…) regroup to organize resistance and save what remains of their kingdoms.
  
  
• First appearances of the Nazgûl : Several media speculate – and some refer to production leaks – about the appearance of the Nine Kings of Men as Nazgûl, a direct consequence of corruption by the Rings.
  
  
• Founding of new locations : It is strongly suggested that Season 3 will show the creation of Rivendell after the fall of Eregion, with Elrond taking on a new leadership role.

A concrete example mentioned by some articles and insiders: we might see Sauron forging the One Ring in Mordor, and, elsewhere, the Elves fleeing to a new refuge that will become Rivendell, while Númenor inexorably approaches its own downfall.

Expected Characters and New Faces

The main protagonists expected to return

Even if the complete cast list for Season 3 is not yet official, the continuity of the story very strongly implies the return of several major characters:

• Sauron (Charlie Vickers) : now at the height of his power, both a political strategist and a sorcerer-smith.
  
  
• Galadriel : a survivor of the trials of Season 2, she positions herself as a war leader and a figure of resistance among the Elves.
  
  
• Elrond and Gil-galad : central to the Elven strategy in the face of open warfare, with an enhanced role for Elrond.
  
  
• The Númenóreans (Elendil, Pharazôn, Eärien, Míriel…) : political tension in Númenor is expected to escalate, bringing the island closer to its future fall.

Several rumors suggest that Elrond could be sent to Númenor as an emissary, which would intertwine his destiny with that of Elendil.

New Characters and Casting Rumors

• Filming leaks indicate the arrival of new human characters linked to the Nine, anticipated to become the future Nazgûl.
  
  
• An actor, Ross Hatt, has been mentioned as playing a certain Lord Balbur, a new character who is already fueling fan community speculation.

As always with The Rings of Power, expect a mix of characters from Tolkien (Elves, Númenóreans) and original creations designed to connect the great events of the Second Age.

Long-term Vision: A Key Step in the Five-Season Plan

From the beginning, Amazon and the showrunners have always spoken of a five-season narrative arc, intended to cover the bulk of the Second Age, from the rise of Sauron to the Last Alliance with Men and Elves.

Some important points:

• Jennifer Salke confirmed the desire to complete this plan of approximately 50 episodes, and Season 3 is integrated into this trajectory.
  
  
• Season 3 is expected to serve as a pivot between Sauron's rise to power (seasons 1–2) and the great falls to come: destruction of Númenor, exile of the Faithful, founding of Gondor and Arnor, Last Alliance.
  
• Some insiders suggest that a new time skip could occur between Seasons 3 and 4, to move towards the generation of Isildur and Anárion and the creation of the exiled kingdoms.

In summary, Season 3 is shaping up to be the moment when the series fully transitions into the events that readers and viewers directly associate with the myth of the One Ring.

Image credit: @JulienGauthier