The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne tease a deadly battle that is to come in season 2. Based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings show premiered in 2022, chronicling Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) rise to power during the Second Age. After a climactic season 1 finale, The Rings of Power season 2 is set to feature Sauron taking on an Elven form as he continues his mission to spread evil across Middle-earth.

In a recent interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), McKay and Payne reveal that The Rings of Power season 2 will feature a particularly big battle sequence as multiple armies collide. While they’re careful not to give away too many details, they do tease that some major characters may not be surviving the ordeal. Check out McKay and Payne’s comment below:

“We like to say that Season 1 was primarily about our heroes. But Season 2 is all about the villains. This time, Sauron’s agenda sets everything in motion: Adar [Sam Hazeldine, taking over the role from Joseph Mawle] and his army of orcs; Galadriel [Morfydd Clark], Elrond [Robert Aramayo] and Gil-galad [Benjamin Walker] and their armies of elves – all of which will come crashing together in the most ambitious battle our show has seen yet, a battle from which many big players may not make it out alive.”

Sauron Could Be A Bigger Threat In The Rings Of Power Season 2

What The Season 2 Trailer Has Revealed About The Lord Of The Rings Villain

Image via Prime Video

A major question throughout season 1 is Sauron’s identity and which character could end up revealing themselves to be the Dark Lord. When the Rings of Power season 1 finale finally reveals that Halbrand is, in fact, Sauron, it paves the way for the villain to become even more powerful in season 2. The finale features Sauron essentially founding the land of Mordor, and he’s poised to be operating from a position of more strength in the show’s sophomore outing.

No longer hiding behind his Halbrand alter ego, Sauron can now begin to more completely shape the world of Middle-earth to his whims. As the Rings of Power season 2 trailer reveals, a major advancement of Sauron’s power is set to arrive with the building of Barad-dûr in Mordor. This location, which is featured prominently in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings movies, essentially serves as Sauron’s central base of power.

What’s more, Sauron is also shown in the season 2 trailer sporting an Elven disguise. This will allow him to gain access to locations he would otherwise be barred from as he manipulates Celebrimbor to forge additional Rings of Power. Evidently, his scheming leads to a pretty major battle. Many questions remain about The Rings of Power season 2, but viewers should evidently expect a major casualty or two in the upcoming batch of episodes.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is set to premiere on Prime Video on August 29.