With all the fanfare around continuing shows like Netflix’s The Witcher, Disney’s The Mandalorian or various Marvel Cinematic Universe series, and HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, it might be easy to forget one of the most iconic fantasy universes of all time - Tolkein’s Middle-Earth.
While The Lord of the Rings trilogy wrapped up 2003 with Return of the King, and The Hobbit trilogy was finished in The Battle of the Five Armies in 2014, fans are about to return to Middle-Earth in 2022, with season 1 of Amazon’s series, The Rings of Power. But, that’s just the beginning. Check out more info on what’s coming to the LOTR universe in the years ahead.
LOTR: The Rings of Power
When: September 22, 2022
Where: Amazon Prime Video
Amazon is all-in on Middle-Earth, as it has 5 seasons planned for the new The Rings of Power live-action series.
Season one will focus on a younger version of Galadriel (like thousands of years younger). She is well known to fans of Peter Jackson’s two trilogies, where she was played by Cate Blanchett. While full details of the series remain shrouded in mystery, the early information and the recently released trailer give us some good hints about season one.
The plot is at least partly based on early Tolkein works, like the Silmarillion and various short stories, but will also create entirely new storylines.
We will meet a much younger and more headstrong Galadriel as she steps forward to lead the elves against a growing evil. She will be joined by a human named Halbrand, a character created for the series.
We will have a storyline focused on the dwarves and the underground city of Khazad-dum, which featured prominently in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
There will also be a storyline around a silvan elf named Arondir and a human named Bronwyn, and we will meet a much younger Elrond.
Finally, we can assume the making of the rings of power will be featured in the series at some point, but perhaps not in the first season.
Trailer
LOTR: The War of the Rohirrim
Theatrical audiences have something to look forward to as well, with another feature-length film coming in 2024. This animated film will tell the story behind the creation of Helm’s Deep, generations before the Theoden and the people of Rohan took shelter there and fought off the hordes of Uruk Hai sent by Saruman. Helm Hammerhand, the legendary king of Rohan from that time will play a key role in the film.
At this point, no casting information has been announced, so this is one to watch in later 2022.
When: Expected in April 2024
Where: Full theatrical release
