'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Adds 'Stranger Things' Star for Season 3

I will be the first to admit I was wrong about The Lord of the Rings: the Rings of Power. Sure, we here at Telly Visions enjoy the series; however, the process of creating those first two seasons was an utter mess, even without the 2020 pandemic and 2023 strike interruptions. While Amazon Studios has never revealed the firm numbers, it's been widely reported the first two seasons cost north of $1 billion American dollars. Amazon may be on par with Apple in terms of money to burn, but there's burning money to buy James Bond (twice!) foolhardiness, and then there's continuing to make the most expensive fantasy series on the planet when it's not a global smash hit.

However, Amazon Studios surprised the naysayers by committing to a third season in February 2025. Now, only a few weeks later, it's doubled down with two significant additions to the cast for the third season. First up is A-list BBC actor Eddie Marsan, who has starred in everything from Ray Donovan to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and was most recently seen in Netflix's hit Supacell. 

He'll be joined by Jamie Campbell Bower, who may not be a household name yet, but is well on his way after a star-making turn in Stranger Things as Henry, aka One to Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven. Bower returns for Stranger Things' final season in 2025, which will make his debut in Rings of Power the first project he'll star in after the Netflix series concludes.

Amazon did not disclose who the actors would be playing. However, since we know Season 3 will include a time jump of several years, it's a good bet Marsen will be a new central figure among the next generation of dwarves, while Bower will probably play a next generation elf.

Here's the logline Amazon Studio provided when Season 3 was announced:

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 conquer all Middle-earth at last.

Of the sprawling ensemble, technically only Morfydd Clark (Murder is Easy), Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones), and Charlie Vickers (Medici) are confirmed to return after the time jump. However, most viewers expect the returns of most of the series regulars, including Benjamin Walker (The Underground Railroad), Maxim Baldry (Years & Years), Lloyd Owen (Silent Witness), Trystan Gravelle (Great Expectations), Daniel Weyman (Gentleman Jack). Ben Daniels (The Crown), Rory Kinnear (Our Flag Means Death), Ciarán Hinds (The Dry), Will Keen (His Dark Materials), Kevin Eldon (My Lady Jane), Calam Lynch (Bridgerton), Stuart Bowman (Guilt), Nicholas Woodeson (Quiz), Tanya Moodie (Rain Dogs), Gabriel Akuwudike (Ridley Road), Ema Horvath (What Lies Below), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Power), Nazanin Boniadi (Scandal), and Ismael Cruz Córdova (The Undoing),

J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay return as writers, showrunners, and executive producers. Season 3 directors confirmed thus far include returnees Charlotte Brändström and Sanaa Hamri with director Stefan Schwartz helming installments as well.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is in production for Season 3, which is expected to debut in 2026.