Production is now underway on Season 3 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Prime Video has confirmed a trio of new cast members ahead of its most ambitious storyline yet. Andrew Richardson joins as a series regular, with Zubin Varla and Adam Young boarding in recurring roles.
No character details have been released, but the timing is deliberate. Season 3 will leap forward in time and dive directly into the War of the Elves and Sauron—an arc that will track the forging of the One Ring and cement the series’ shift into Second Age endgame territory.
Richardson, whose credits span stage productions including Uncle Vanya and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, leads the latest intake. Varla arrives following work on Andor and Silent Witness, while Young adds to his rising profile after appearances in Don’t Breathe 2, Masters of the Air, and The Witcher: Blood Origin. They join Jamie Campbell Bower and Eddie Marsan, both previously announced as new additions.
With Shepperton Studios again serving as the production base, Season 3 is being positioned as a tonal shift—less preamble, more power plays. The Second Age’s mythology is tightening, and the series appears to be accelerating toward its most consequential arc yet. That shift coincides with the franchise’s need to sustain engagement across seasons, particularly after mixed response to Season 1 and a more strategically retooled Season 2.
J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay continue to shepherd the series, with Amazon sticking to a long-view franchise commitment despite high costs and a competitive fantasy market. Season 1 bowed in September 2022, followed by Season 2 in August 2024. Season 3 has no set release date, but with cameras rolling, a late 2025 launch is in play.
