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Rings of Power season 3 confirmed to be missing key characters following major Gandalf reveal

The major reveal is set to have consequences when Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power returns for new episodes.

Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil in The Rings of Power Season 2 standing over The Stranger in a chair

Ross Ferguson / Prime Video

Published: Thursday, 30 July 2026 at 12:10 pm

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be missing some key characters when season 3 returns – the Harfoots.

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The Harfoots have been part of the prequel series since the beginning, with Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) going on a journey across the land with a character known as The Stranger (Daniel Weyman).

At the end of season 2, it was revealed The Stranger’s real identity was… Gandalf.

But ahead of season 3’s launch this November, showrunner JD Payne confirmed to Empire Magazine that the Harfoots will not be as present going forward.

“It was time for them to take a little bit more of a backseat,” he said. “But I will also say: never count a Halfling out.”

Markella Kavenagh as Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot and Megan Richards as Poppy Proudfellow

Markella Kavenagh as Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot and Megan Richards as Poppy Proudfellow. Ben Rothstein/Amazon Studios

By the time the Gandalf reveal was made in the Prime Video series, Nori and Poppy were saying goodbye to the iconic wizard, already setting up for a new adventure with the Stoors.

Both the Stoors and Harfoots are generations of migrating hobbits – and with the new group, the pair set off for a new migration.

So while the door is open for their return, it seems they now may be ready to start a new chapter of their own story, and won’t feature in a major storyline if they appear at all.

Instead, season 3 will switch focus to Sauron’s efforts to forge the One Ring that will rule them all – and become the item many will fight and die for in the future of JRR Tolkien’s fantasy world.

The official synopsis from Prime Video teases a Middle-earth at war, with five years passing since the fall of Eregion and Sauron’s armies dominating the world – but that still doesn’t seem enough for him, as his obsession with total power has left him toiling in his tower, thinking about how to acquire it.

Daniel Weyman as The Stranger in The Rings of Power season 2

Daniel Weyman as The Stranger in The Rings of Power season 2 Prime Video

“Only a few isolated pockets stand between the Dark Lord and total victory,” the synopsis reads.

“Khazad-dûm, where the Dwarves are now sealed deep within their mountain halls, and the elven realms of Lindon and Rivendell, which are protected by their Three Rings.”

When Sauron comes up with the idea for the One Ring “all the free peoples of Middle-earth — Dwarves, Elves, Men, and Wizards alike — must find a way to come together, in a race against time to prevent Sauron from achieving his goal of utter domination of all life".

New cast members for season 3 include Jamie Campbell Bower as Celeborn, Galadriel’s husband, and Simon Pegg, who will voice the Balrog – a giant monster who, alongside Sauron, forges the One Ring.

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The Rings of Power season 3 launches 11 November on Prime Video. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now – you can sign up now for a free 30-day Prime Video trial.

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If you’re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide, or visit our dedicated Fantasy hub. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.

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