The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power isn’t exactly known for its rapid-fire storytelling; season three, arriving in November, will finally see the creation of the One Ring. But behind the scenes, the show’s production schedule seems to be picking up the pace. Not long after Prime Video announced Rings of Power will return on November 11, months earlier than its previously expected 2027 arrival, a new report suggests the streamer is already preparing to get filming underway for season four.
It’s long been understood that Amazon is planning a five-season run for its notoriously expensive J.R.R. Tolkien adaptation—but as the Hollywood Reporter points out, season four has yet to be officially greenlit. However, “the show’s UK-based production is eyeing a schedule that includes preproduction on a fourth season this fall, with shooting to begin in early 2027.”
The trade also writes that “given the release cadence of the first three seasons and the company’s current season four production plan, the fourth season seems likely to drop in 2028.”
The official description for season three is as follows: “Jumping forward several years from the events of season two, season three takes place at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to craft the One Ring that will give him the edge he needs to win the war and conquer all Middle-earth at last.”
There’s no reason given in THR’s report as to why the show is seemingly accelerating its filming plans, but it makes a certain amount of sense given the imminent return of Lord of the Rings to the big screen. Andy Serkis’ The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum—which is unrelated to Rings of Power, thanks to the tangled web of Tolkien-adjacent rights issues—is slated to hit theaters in December 2027, with the Stephen Colbert-penned franchise entry following sometime after.
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