The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne confirm the status of season 3. After premiering on Prime Video in 2022, the hit Lord of the Rings series, which chronicles Sauron’s rise to power during the Second Age of Middle-earth, returned for season 2 this past summer. Though reviews were positive for the sophomore outing, viewership took a dip and there has since been some uncertainty regarding the status of The Rings of Power season 3.
Now, during a recent interview with Screen Rant, McKay and Payne confirm that work is underway on The Rings of Power season 3, meaning the show has seemingly been renewed. Though the showrunners are careful not to let any details slip regarding a potential release window or what audiences should expect from the story, Payne reveals that they’re “prepping now, very, very intensely.” Check out their full exchange below:
JD Payne: We’re working on it.
Patrick McKay: We’re working now!
JD Payne: We’re prepping now, very, very intensely. Um—
Patrick McKay: That’s all we can say!
[…]
JD Payne: We do [have some exciting stuff coming]. It’s gonna be really good. We’re excited.
Patrick McKay: It’s gonna be awesome.
What The Rings Of Power’s Season 3 Confirmation Means For The Lord Of The Rings Show
Amazon’s Plan For The Show Explained
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Though The Rings of Power‘s season 2 reviews have largely been more positive than the ones for season 1, viewership did decline. This isn’t entirely unexpected given the massive marketing push that was behind season 1, but it did raise questions about the show’s future. McKay and Payne – and Amazon – have long held that they have a five-season plan for The Rings of Power, and the confirmation of season 3 means this plan is one step closer to coming to fruition.
One-to-one comparisons are limited with the data that’s available, but The Rings of Power season 2 is reported to have reached 40 million viewers in its first 11 days and 55 million in its first 34 days (via Variety). Season 1, by comparison, reached 25 million viewers in its first day of availability. When season 2 debuted on the Nielsen Streaming Top 10, it did so with 1 billion minutes watched, an impressive number, but still down from the 1.3 billion of season 1.
Further complicating the show’s success metrics is just how expensive the whole endeavor is, with the five-season plan reported carrying a price tag of about $1 billion. Amazon executive Jennifer Salke, however, suggests the company is happy with the show’s performance. Salke told Variety in October that she feels “really good” about its performance and that they’ll “continue to make the show as long as we see global customers loving it and watching it.” If season 3 continues the show’s strong viewership, then, two more seasons will seemingly move forward.
When The Rings Of Power Season 3 Could Release
What Season 2 Tells Us About The Show’s Production Timeline
There’s no release window available for when the show will pick up again after the Rings of Power season 2 finale, but the comments from McKay and Payne provide some hints regarding when the series could return. With the two showrunners currently in the prep phase, the new episodes could go to camera next year. This, in turn, would make a late 2026 release date a possibility.
It’s also possible, however, that audiences won’t see the Rings of Power cast back in action until 2027. Filming for season 2 took place from October 2022 to June 2023, with the season premiering in August 2024. Season 3 will presumably take about the same amount of time to film, and the show clearly requires a lot of work in post-production. If season 3 doesn’t start filming until April 2025, let’s say, it may not conclude until December of that year. Following the same schedule as season 2, season 3 would then arrive around February or March 2027.
After season 1 was filmed in New Zealand, just like Peter Jackson’s beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy, season 2 saw the show move its production base to the U.K., where all subsequent seasons will be filmed.
Our Take On The Rings Of Power Season 3’s Confirmation
The Lord Of The Rings Show Deserves To Continue
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Though The Rings of Power isn’t a flawless show, it’s still remarkable to see television being made at this scale and budget level. Season 2 was an improvement over season 1 in many ways, and it’s entirely possible that season 3 will continue this trend as McKay and Payne delve further into their Middle-earth vision.
The Rings Of Power’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Season
RT Critics Score
RT Audience Score
1
84%
38%
2
84%
60%
Season 3 will be an interesting test regarding the show’s long-term prospects when it comes to viewership. After season 1 left many viewers cold, season 2’s audience could have consisted more of those who actually enjoy the show and its characters, and this core audience could return for season 3 and beyond. With work now underway on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3, more information about a filming and release timeline is hopefully not far off.
