Summary:
- Amazon is reportedly pleased with The Rings of Power season 2’s performance despite lower ratings and has already been developing season 3, though it hasn’t been officially renewed yet.
- The show remains a major investment, with plans to complete the series in five seasons if viewership remains strong.
The future of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 has reportedly become clearer, following a decline in ratings for season 2.
Created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, this Lord of the Rings prequel series debuted in 2022 on Prime Video, focusing on the escalating conflict between Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Sauron (Charlie Vickers) during Middle-earth’s Second Age. Although season 2 premiered in August, it hasn’t quite matched the viewership numbers of its predecessor.
A new report from The Hollywood Reporter suggests that despite the dip, season 3 has been in development for months, even though Amazon has not officially renewed the show. The report claims Amazon is still satisfied with the show’s performance, which drew 40 million viewers in the first 11 days across the first three episodes of season 2.
Season 2 is still expected to rank among Prime Video’s top 5 seasons, and as a result, THR’s sources indicate that Amazon plans to complete the series with season 5, following McKay and Payne‘s initial vision.
#1. What The Rings Of Power’s Season 3 Update Means For The Show
Amazon’s acquisition of The Lord of the Rings rights in 2017 came at an enormous cost of $250 million, with reports suggesting that the entire production budget could reach up to $1 billion over five seasons.
While Amazon isn’t contractually obligated to deliver five seasons, the company’s significant investment in this high-profile IP makes it clear that they see the potential value. Although season 2’s ratings have dipped from season 1, it remains one of Prime Video’s strongest performers.
The reported budget for season 1 stood at around $465 million, with some of that cost going toward setting the groundwork for future seasons. The move from New Zealand to the UK for season 2 should also help reduce production costs going forward.
If season 3 gets the official green light and manages to maintain ratings similar to season 2, it seems likely that seasons 4 and 5 will follow. Reviews for season 2 have generally improved compared to season 1, although audience feedback remains mixed. Currently, Rotten Tomatoes reflects an 85% approval rating from critics and 58% from audiences for season 2, compared to 83% and 38% for season 1, respectively.
#2. Our Take On The Rings Of Power Season 3
It’s difficult to fully assess how season 2 of The Rings of Power has been received, as there’s a particularly vocal section of viewers online that tends to spread negativity around the show.
While the Rotten Tomatoes scores offer some insight, viewership data after the season finale will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the show’s true fan base. Viewers who stick with the series through season 2 are likely to return for season 3 and beyond.
Despite promising viewership numbers for season 2, the massive financial commitment behind The Rings of Power means that the bar for success is extremely high. With production costs presumably decreasing after season 1, the big question remains whether Amazon’s gamble on the series will yield long-term success.
New episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 air every Thursday on Prime Video.
