Since the series takes place during the Second Age — thousands of years before the events of both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings — well-known heroes like Aragorn and Frodo likely won’t appear, because they weren’t yet born. Instead, Rings of Power will revolve around a different ensemble that includes a young Elrond (the eventual founder of the elven realm of Rivendell; previously portrayed by Hugo Weaving in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films) and the Dark Lord Sauron, who in the upcoming series is piecing together his plan to rule all of Middle-earth.
The fantasy epic, which has already been renewed for Season 2, will span a wide array of locations, from “the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor” as old and new characters etch out legacies that will last long after they are dead.
Details on the show are still very misty, which is why we’re snatching up all the intel we can ahead of its premiere this fall. Everything we know about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power so far:
1. Release date
The series premieres Friday, Sept. 2 on Prime Video. Episodes will be released weekly.
2. The plot
The series will tackle Sauron’s ascension to power as well as the forging of the Rings of Power, which the Dark Lord gifted to humans, elves and dwarves and secretly controlled with his one ring.
According to Vanity Fair, a young, angry and brash Galadriel (played by Morfydd Clark) starts the series fighting for survival on a raft on the Sundering Seas with Halbrand (Charlie Vickers). She is hunting down the remaining parties involved in her brother’s murder.
The show will also chronicle the rise and fall of Númenor, the island of men from which Aragorn is descended, and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, an epic battle against Sauron which ended with Isildur cutting the One Ring from Sauron’s hand and claiming it for himself.
3. The characters
Galadriel (played by Morfydd Clark), the elven ruler of Lothlórien and commander of the Northern Armies.
High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), the elven ruler of Ñoldor who, in the books, founded the Last Alliance of Elves and Men alongside the Númenórean warrior Elendil.
Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur), who hails from the dwarf realm of Khazad-dûm (which is seen in ruins in Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring).
Disa (Sophia Nomvete), a dwarven princess and the first female dwarf from Tolkien’s fantasy series portrayed on screen. As this new character, Nomvete is also the first Black woman to play a dwarf.
Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), a silvan elf who was also created for the series. He is the first non-white elf portrayed on screen.
Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), another new character, is a mortal fugitive running from his past.
Elrond (Robert Aramayo), a half-elf and “politically ambitious” young leader and architect who rises to prominence in the elven capital of Lindon.
Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), a healer and a single mom who runs her own apothecary and lives in Tirharad, a human village located south of Gondor and Mordor. Arondir is her forbidden love.
Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) is Bronwyn’s son.
Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), the elven smith who forges Sauron’s Rings of Power.
Isildur (Maxim Baldry), a sailor from Númenor who will eventually cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand.
Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), a new character and one of the hobbit ancestors — referred to as harfoots.
The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), no additional details have been given.