Summary:
- The Rings of Power showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay expect news about the next season’s official green light soon, following a Prime Video UK Upfront presentation.
- The second season has attracted over 55 million viewers, and Amazon remains committed to its original 50-hour plan.
While showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay have been preparing the story for the next season for months, the absence of an official green light has sparked speculation and concern among some fans, especially since the second season was ordered years before the first season premiered. However, news about the season’s status is expected to be announced this month.
This development follows this week’s Prime Video UK Upfront presentation to advertisers in London, where Amazon MGM Studios showcased The Rings of Power and featured several cast members, including Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Charlie Vickers, and Sophia Nomvete. Typically, studios only present shows to buyers at these events if they are committed to continuing them.
Studio head Jennifer Salke informed buyers that the second season has garnered over 55 million viewers, and the company anticipates that it will eventually catch up to the first season, which reached over 150 million viewers.
Although Amazon does not define what constitutes a viewer, it has stated that the show remains one of the top five series on the platform. Additionally, The Rings of Power topped the Nielsen charts during its second week, accumulating over 1 billion minutes of streaming.
In terms of reception, Rotten Tomatoes ratings for both critics and audiences were slightly higher for the second season than for the first.
Previously, The Hollywood Reporter indicated that Amazon is still committed to its original 50-hour plan for the series.
Payne and McKay, who have multi-year contracts, have already assembled their writers’ room for the third season. The team includes Justin Doble (executive producer), Ben Tagoe (consulting producer), Ava Wong Davies (consulting producer), Constance Cheng (consulting producer), Jonathan Wilson (consulting producer), Griff Jones (staff writer), and Sarah Anson (staff writer).
For more insights into The Rings of Power finale, check out THR’s interview with Payne and McKay, where they discuss key creative decisions from the season two finale and tease what’s next for Sauron in season three.
