Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power may take a year or two before the second season arrives, according to showrunner Patrick McKay. The Amazon prequel is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel series.
The Rings of Power is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth and takes place thousands of years before Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The show is spearheaded by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne.
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Rings Of Power Season 2 Might Not Come Sooner
Season 1 premiered last September via Prime Video, and it received generally positive reviews just only after two episodes aired. The series has a whopping budget of $462 million for the first season alone, and it would at least climb up to $1 billion due to its commitment to a five-installment deal, making it one of the most expensive television series ever created.
The eight-episode series finished filming in 2021, and with only one episode left, the production for season 2 had already begun. As to the release date, showrunner McKay told The Hollywood Reporter that it might take “another couple years” for the filming to finish. Seeing the colossal scale of the first season and taking almost 18 months to wrap up, the time frame sounds reasonable.
The showrunners are also planning to introduce more iconic locations, Middle-earth characters, and a massive two-episode battle. Taking these into consideration, the show has set the bar high for itself and it may need all the preparations it can get not only to maintain its viewership but also to attract more audience.
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The Final Episode Will Serve As A Culmination Of Season 1
The final episode of The Rings of Power will be more of a conclusion than an introduction to Season 2, says McKay via THR.
“Quite often in serialized television, the last episode of the first season is table-setting for the second season. We don’t feel that way. Our last episode is the ultimate culmination of every single fuse we’ve lit in the first seven episodes. Hopefully, people are really satisfied with the big booms that happen — though they might be emotional booms rather than volcanic ones.”
The Rings of Power is the duo’s first foray as showrunners, and they have bested several hopefuls who also vied for the job. McKay and Payne’s in-depth knowledge of Tolkien’s world combined with their passion for bringing the story to life is the secret success ingredient. Lastly, the duo promised a bigger and better experience for the fans next season on “every level… by an order of magnitude.”
Catch the final episode of The Rings of Power this Friday on Prime Video.
