‘LoTR: Rings of Power’ Adds ‘Game of Thrones’ Ciarán Hinds & Others to Cast
The second season of The Rings of Power is in full production. The show has added some stellar actors – including Ciarán Hinds.
Even with its faults and detractors, The Rings of Power has set some hefty records for Amazon’s streaming service. The first official Neilson Ratings reported 1.25 billion minutes of viewing time (an average of 9.5 million viewers) following its premiere last September, making it one of their top debuts. Based on the numbers, Amazon’s gamble has paid off.
Due in part to this success, Season 2 started filming before Season 1 finished airing last year. Amazon agreed to a five-season commitment when they picked up the rights. They’ll want to get the seasons out at a steady clip, so that sort of overlap will likely be the norm. No time to waste – especially if they want to avoid repeating HBO’s wonky release schedule issue.
via Amazon
What We Know About Rings of Power Season 2
The first season was shot over 18 months in New Zealand during the height of the pandemic. Production has moved to Bray Studios in the U.K. for the second season. As with Season One, there will be eight episodes. No release date is available, but production is in full swing.
There will be new faces as the story progresses and forces come together. They’ve announced the addition of Círdan (the actor is unknown for now), one of the highest, most noble, and eldest of the Sindar. He was lord of the Falas during the First Age, and Master of the Gray Havens in the Second Age. Círdan was a ring bearer (he carried Narya), and he’s been seen in passing in Jackson’s movies.
via New Line
New Rings of Power Cast Announced
Many actors in The Rings of Power Season One will be returning. The story’s expansion is going to require some new members, though. Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, and Nicholas Woodeson were all announced last year. Their roles have not been shared.
The actor who plays the fallen Elf Adar, Joseph Mawle, is leaving the show. The actor addressed his reasons on Twitter after the move was announced – it sounds like he wanted to move on to different projects. The character has been recast and will be played by Sam Hazeldine (The War Below) moving forward.
The most recent additions include some heavy-hitting character actors: Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones, Belfast), Rory Kinnear (Our Flag Means Death, Men), and Tanya Moodie (The Man Who Fell to Earth, A Discovery of Witches). They will have recurring roles in the upcoming season but haven’t been linked with specific characters.
Hinds is a shoo-in for Círdan. But… who knows? Who do you think the new cast will be playing?
