While there hasn’t been an official announcement about Season 3, all signs point to its likely return.
According to reports, the showrunners have already started working on the next chapter. Back in February 2024, it was shared that even though the third season hadn’t been formally approved, the team was already developing the storyline. Co-showrunner Patrick McKay hinted at this during the Season 2 premiere in August 2024, saying, “All we can say is, we’re working on it. We’re cooking. Let us cook!” This fits with earlier comments from McKay and co-showrunner JD Payne, who had always envisioned the series as a five-season saga. Payne even mentioned that they already know how the final episode of the series will end, showing their commitment to long-term planning.
As for when fans might expect Season 3, it is tough to predict since it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet. Based on the production time between the first two seasons, it’s likely that Season 3 could premiere around August or September 2026. The series’ complex production, including its heavy use of visual effects, means that it takes a significant amount of time to create each season.
In terms of the cast, it is still unclear who will return for Season 3 since Season 2 is still airing. However, it is expected that key characters like Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel and Charlie Vickers’ Sauron will continue to play important roles. Other characters, such as Elrond, played by Robert Aramayo, and Arondir, portrayed by Ismael Cruz Córdova, may also be central to the ongoing storyline. Season 2 introduced new characters like Ciarán Hinds as the Dark Wizard and Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil, who may also return in the future.
From the beginning, The Rings of Power was designed as a five-season epic, exploring significant events in Middle-earth’s history. Amazon Studios has expressed its dedication to creating a visually impressive and rich narrative experience. However, while the creators have a clear plan for five seasons, official confirmation for Seasons 4 and 5 is still pending. The success of Season 2 and the possible launch of Season 3 will likely influence the future of this grand series.
For now, fans will have to wait and see how things unfold as the second season continues, and whether the epic saga of Middle-earth will move forward into its planned five seasons.
