The status of season 3 of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” has reportedly been clarified following the lower ratings for season 2. The series, brought to life by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, made its debut on Prime Video in 2022, exploring the escalating conflict between Galadriel (played by Morfydd Clark) and Sauron (portrayed by Charlie Vickers) in Middle-earth’s Second Age. Season 2 of “The Rings of Power” premiered on Prime Video in August, but experienced a decline in viewership compared to its inaugural season.
According to a new report from THR, “The Rings of Power” season 3 has been in development for several months, although Amazon has yet to officially confirm the show’s continuation. The report indicates that Amazon is satisfied with the ratings from season 2, which saw 40 million viewers engage with the first three episodes within the initial 11 days of their release on the platform.
Season 2 is anticipated to rank among the top 5 seasons for Prime Video. Consequently, THR suggests that insiders have conveyed that the streaming service still intends to conclude the show with season 5, in alignment with Payne and McKay’s initial vision for the series.
Implications of the Season 3 Update for “The Rings of Power”
Why Seasons 4 & 5 Seem Probable
The rights to parts of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” were acquired by Amazon for a staggering $250 million in 2017. The total investment in “The Rings of Power” is projected to reach as much as $1 billion over five seasons. Although Amazon is not contractually bound to produce five seasons, the company evidently recognizes the worth of this intellectual property. Despite the dip in viewership from season 1 to season 2, “The Rings of Power” season 2 maintains strong performance metrics on Prime Video.
The budget for the first season was approximately $465 million, part of which was allocated to setting the stage for future seasons. The relocation of the show’s production from New Zealand to the UK for season 2 should also contribute to reducing logistical expenses in the future.
Should “The Rings of Power” season 3 receive official renewal and if its ratings mirror those of season 2, it’s plausible that seasons 4 and 5 will follow. Critiques of season 2 have generally been more favorable than those of the first season, yet audience reactions remain divided. On Rotten Tomatoes, season 2 holds a robust 85% rating from critics and a 58% from audiences, both improvements over the respective 83% and 38% ratings for season 1.
Our Perspective on “The Rings of Power” Season 3
Will Amazon’s Investment Yield Returns?
Overall, gauging the reception of “The Rings of Power” season 2 is challenging due to a notably vocal group intent on cultivating a negative perception of the series online. While Rotten Tomatoes scores offer some insight, a comprehensive understanding of the viewership for the entirety of season 2, expected to become clearer after the finale, will provide a more accurate depiction of the series’ fan base on Prime Video. Those viewers who remain engaged through the end of season 2 are likely candidates to return for future seasons.
Where Was The Rings Of Power Filmed? Middle-Earth Filming Locations Explained
Although the numbers for season 2 are promising and would be exceptional for a show with a standard budget, the substantial investment in “The Rings of Power” sets a high bar for success. While the budget per season is expected to decrease following season 1, the long-term payoff of Amazon’s significant gamble on “The Rings of Power” remains uncertain.
New episodes of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season 2 air on Thursdays on Prime Video.
Source: THR
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
- Adventure
- Fantasy
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history for the very first time. Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power will explore a time in the franchise where kingdoms rose and fell, where The One Ring itself was forged and tells the tale of the rise of the greatest foe in the Lord of the Rings Franchise, the Dark Lord Sauron. Beginning in a time of peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of familiar and new characters as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil in Middle-earth. From the depths of the Misty Mountains to the forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, The Rings of Power promises to condense the extended works of Tolkien in a condensed but all-encompassing TV show format. The first season of The Rings of Power began airing exclusively on Prime Video on September 2, 2022..
