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Rings of Power season 3 co-showrunner offers reassurance to fans after mixed reaction to seasons 1 and 2

“There's something for everyone to come in this season."

Charlie Vickers as Sauron in The Rings of Power season 3

Prime Video

Published: Sunday, 8 November 2026 at 8:00 am

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Rings of Power co-showrunner JD Payne has promised that the upcoming third season is the one that fans of Tolkien's literature "have been waiting for".

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The Lord of the Rings prequel series, which first hit screens in 2022, and is set thousands of years before the journey of Frodo Baggins, unfolding during Middle Earth's Second Age, received a mixed reaction from critics and audiences across its first two seasons.

But speaking exclusively to Radio Times, Payne promised that season 3 - which will pick up five years after its predecessor at the height of the war between the Elves and Sauron - is "the season you've been waiting for".

He explained: "Sauron is going to forge the One Ring - we'll get to spend an extended sequence inside of Mount Doom and, and get to see what that actual process was like."

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Continuing, he added: "This season we get to see why he made the ring, what it meant to him psychologically, spiritually, physically, so we think there's something for everyone to come in this season.

"Without spoiling everything I would say for fans of Lord of the Rings, for fans of Tolkien's literature this season has four or five major tent pole iconic moments from the lore that you've been waiting to see on screen."

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One new addition to the third season is Manukh, who has been described by the showrunners as an "orc with an arc".

Speaking exclusively to Radio Times, actor Adam Young said of the character: "He's basically Sauron's right-hand man. He's one of his foot soldiers, a general, and he has questionable motives right from the get-go, and you're unsure of where it's leading."

On the new season, he added: "It's a lot darker... there's destruction, there's death. For me, it was an absolute joy to just jump straight into that world. 12-year-old me was freaking out – in a good way!"

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to watch on Prime Video from Wednesday 11 November 2026. You can sign up to Prime Video for a 30-day free trial.

Add The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

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Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.

RadioTimes.com senior trends writer Molly Moss. She is sitting outside wearing a black top, holding a white teacup with a smily face on it to her mouth

Molly MossTrends Writer

Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.

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