Amazon Studios' head of television Vernon Sanders has addressed the hopeful release timeline for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2. Season 2 of the record-breaking fantasy series - set in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth - is currently being produced in the UK following a successful season 1 that utilized New Zealand for its stellar visuals. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay continue to guide the series in the direction of their fully mapped-out plan, which would take the show through season 5.
Speaking with Collider, Sanders explained that, while he would be ecstatic to see The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 produced in time to release it in 2023, he admitted it would be difficult to do so. He said that, while the season 2 may not come out as soon as next year, The Rings of Power's production is still on schedule. Check out what Sanders had to say about production below:
I don’t know that I can say… It would be amazing if we could get Season 2 out within a year of Season 1’s release. It may take a smidge longer than that, but we're doing everything we can, and we're going to get better and faster as we go. Certainly, the production, what we've learned in Season 1, has taught us things that we're applying in Season 2, and so far we set a goal for ourselves of when we want that show to be released, and we are on track and on plan.
Why Rings Of Power Season 2 Will Take So Long
Sanders saying that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 will take longer than season 1 to produce indicates that season 2 may not air until sometime after 2023. Given the shooting location change from New Zealand to the UK, it's understandable how production may have been impacted and why it could take a long time to fully complete. Now that the series is being filmed in a different country, pre-established outdoor settings like the outside of Khazad-dûm and the cities of Númenor may need more set work done to look and feel like they did when the series was being filmed in New Zealand. The required setup and visual effects will have to accommodate the new location while feeling like the old.
The plot of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 may also account for why season 2 will take so long to produce. The number of major characters who are currently separated from one another and going to different locations means there will be much more transpiring in season 2 than in season 1. Primary plots include Nori and the Stranger's journey to Rhûn, Sauron's return to Mordor and an inevitable reunion with Adar, Arondir's quest to lead the displaced people of the Southlands to Pelargir, and Galadriel's new involvement with the creation of the Rings of Power. These are only some of the many moving plot elements to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power going into season 2, highlighting just how much needs to be taken into account during the production of the upcoming season.
What To Expect In The Rings Of Power Season 2
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With a multitude of plot elements set up for season 2, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power appears to be focusing on expanding Middle-earth while focusing on both adventure and the wartime struggles Sauron's return will bring. It's likely audiences will get answers as to who the Stranger is, what the Balrog under Khazad-dûm will do, and how the rest of the Rings of Power are created now that Galadriel has discovered Halbrand is Sauron. Payne and McKay have already teased a multi-episode battle for season 2 as well, showcasing just how much bigger and better The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 will be - and why it needs so much time to be done right.
Source: Collider