Amazon Prime Video has released the official trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, and the Dark Lord is no longer hiding. The new footage shows Charlie Vickers’ Sauron ruling from Mordor as his armies of Orcs, Ring-servants and monstrous creatures sweep across Middle-earth. It ends on the moment fans have been waiting three seasons to see, with Sauron holding the One Ring.
The trailer arrived on Wednesday, three weeks before the new season begins streaming. Dragons, the Balrog and the Ring-servants all go to war this season. Here’s everything the trailer reveals and what we know about the season so far.
The Rings of Power Season 3 Trailer Breakdown
The trailer opens over the fiery plains of Mordor, where Sauron looks out from atop his tower. “I see the path to victory so certain,” he says, before vowing to take his place as a conqueror, a sorcerer and a king. Moments later, Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel charges into battle against Khamûl the Easterling, one of Sauron’s Ring-servants, and is knocked from her horse.
Elsewhere, Gil-galad warns the Elves that “the enemy has twice our number” as a huge army of Orcs gathers. Gandalf promises that together they can “turn the tide,” while Prince Durin IV assures a worried Dwarf council that they won’t face the Dark Lord alone. The footage also shows Elendil leading an army, new flying and burrowing creatures, and a glimpse of the Balrog.
One of the most striking scenes shows Galadriel with her husband Celeborn, who asks her, “Is there something you fear to tell me?” Celeborn then fades away and Sauron appears in his place, revealing the moment to be a nightmare. The trailer closes with Sauron on his throne and the words “Rule them all” before he gazes at the finished One Ring as its inscription blazes to life.
When Does The Rings of Power Season 3 Premiere?
The Rings of Power Season 3 premieres on November 11, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video. The season has eight episodes and will roll out over three weeks rather than all at once. Here’s the full schedule:
Episodes 1–4: November 11
Episodes 5–6: November 18
Episodes 7–8: November 25
The season will be available in more than 240 countries and territories. All 16 episodes of the first two seasons are already streaming on Prime Video, so there’s still time to catch up before the premiere.
Who's in The Rings of Power Season 3 Cast?
Six new faces join the series this season, led by Stranger Things star Jamie Campbell Bower as Galadriel’s long-lost husband. Simon Pegg’s casting as the voice of the Balrog was revealed at San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year. Adam Young’s Marnûkh is an original character created for the show.
Actor | Role |
|---|---|
Jamie Campbell Bower | Celeborn, Galadriel’s long-lost husband |
Zubin Varla | Khamûl, the Easterling of Rhûn |
Eddie Marsan | Thrain, Durin IV’s older brother |
Andrew Richardson | Anarion, Elendil’s younger son and Isildur’s brother |
Adam Young | Marnûkh, a mysterious Orc who may not be what he seems |
Simon Pegg | The voice of the Balrog |
The new arrivals join a large returning cast. Charlie Vickers is back as Sauron, alongside Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, Robert Aramayo as Elrond, Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad and Daniel Weyman as Gandalf. Sophia Nomvete, Owain Arthur, Lloyd Owen, Maxim Baldry, Trystan Gravelle, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Ciarán Hinds and Rory Kinnear also return.
Where The Rings of Power Left Off Before Season 3
The Season 2 finale ended in disaster for the Elves. Sauron killed Celebrimbor and took the Nine Rings from Galadriel as Eregion fell, while Durin IV’s army arrived just in time to help Gil-galad, Elrond and the other survivors escape. They regrouped in a valley to the north and vowed to stand against Sauron.
The rest of Middle-earth was left in turmoil too. Durin III named his son king before facing the Balrog beneath Khazad-dûm, and Pharazôn turned Númenor against Míriel after learning that Halbrand was Sauron. In Rhûn, the Stranger rejected the Dark Wizard’s offer and came to believe he would be known as Gandalf.
What Happens in The Rings of Power Season 3?
The Rings of Power Season 3 jumps forward in time to the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron. Five years have passed since the fall of Eregion, and Sauron’s armies have conquered almost everything in their path. Only a few strongholds remain, including the sealed Dwarf halls of Khazad-dûm and the Elven realms of Lindon and Rivendell, which are protected by the Three Rings.
From his newly completed tower of Barad-dûr, Sauron works to craft the One Ring and win the war for good. Tensions are rising among the Elves on the front lines, family ties are strained among the Dwarves and Númenor is close to civil war. In the eastern lands of Rhûn, Gandalf uses all his magic and persuasion to turn back the darkness.
The showrunners have promised a very different tone this time. “We have a full-on villain this season, in a way that was quite different before,” J.D. Payne told Empire. Patrick McKay added, “This is the season where Sauron makes the One Ring in the volcano,” and warned that “this third season is darker, more dangerous. No-one is safe.”
Is The Rings of Power Season 3 the Last Season?
No, as Prime Video has already renewed the series for Season 4. The early renewal was announced at Amazon’s Upfront presentation in May, alongside the Season 3 premiere date. Amazon MGM Studios also said the show has drawn more than 185 million viewers worldwide.
Payne and McKay return as showrunners and executive producers, alongside Lindsey Weber, Justin Doble, Kate Hazell and director Charlotte Brändström. Brändström directs Season 3 episodes with Sanaa Hamri and Stefan Schwartz. No premiere window has been announced for Season 4 yet.
The forging of the One Ring has been the show’s endgame since its very first episode. Now that it’s finally arriving, Season 3 will show whether Galadriel, Elrond and Gil-galad can hold Lindon and Rivendell once Sauron no longer needs to hide. With Season 4 already on the way, the Second Age’s final battles still lie ahead.
Source: Amazon Prime Video
