Prime Video sets late 2026 release date for The Rings of Power season 3 — and its unnerving first image teases something important about Charlie Vickers' Sauron | Tech Radar
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Prime Video sets late 2026 release date for The Rings of Power season 3 — and its unnerving first image teases something important about Charlie Vickers' Sauron
Amazon is forging ahead with its Lord of the Rings prequel, which returns this November
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In the fires of Mount Doom... (Image credit: Prime Video)
Amazon has announced The Rings of Power season 3's release date
Its first-look image teases something important about Sauron
Amazon has confirmed when The Rings of Power season 3 will debut on Prime Video.
During its 2026 Upfronts Presentation yesterday (May 11), Amazon announced its Lord of the Rings prequel will return to our screens on Wednesday, November 11. No other details were provided about its impending launch, such as how many episodes will drop on the aforementioned date. However, we've been treated to a glimpse at the show's next chapter via a new image, which you can view below:
The Dark Lord returns. Season 3 begins November 11, 2026 pic.twitter.com/RUXkbd 5z 2l May 11, 2026
The Dark Lord returns. Season 3 begins November 11, 2026 pic.twitter.com/RUXkbd 5z 2l May 11, 2026
We shouldn't be surprised that The Rings of Power will return before the end of the year. After all, filming wrapped on The Rings of Power season 3 last December, so a 12-month post-production cycle, even for a series of this scale, is ample time to ensure it would be ready to broadcast before 2027 arrives.
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There's been plenty of other news surrounding one of the biggest Prime Video TV Originals over the past year, too.
For starters, Stranger Things' Jamie Campbell-Bower and Heartstopper's Eddie Marsan have joined The Rings of Power for season 3 in what's expected to be substantial roles. That pair were joined by three more cast additions for The Rings of Power 3 as filming got underway in June 2025.
As for what we know about its plot, The Lord of the Rings TV series will feature a big time jump following last season's finale. Per this season's official blurb, it "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, bind all peoples to his will — and at last rule all Middle-earth". Finally, then, we can expect The One Ring to be fashioned by Charlie Vickers' Big Bad.
What else does The Rings of Power season 3's first image tell us about its story?
Last season's finale saw Sauron get his hands on Morgoth's crown (Image credit: Prime Video)
Possible spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 3.
Truthfully, not a lot. In fact, it only shows Vickers' Sauron standing in a dimly-lit room while wearing Morgoth's crown, which he acquired in season 2's final episode. To remind yourself what happened in that chapter, read my The Rings of Power season 2 ending explained piece.
Even though the image doesn't confirm much about this season's plot, we can still analyze it and speculate on what's happening here. My best guess? This is where Sauron finally forges The One Ring and/or the formidable, fear-inducing armor he wears during the climactic battle known as The Last Alliance of Men and Elves, which takes place at the end of Middle-earth's Second Age.
Admittedly, it's way too early in the timeline for that hugely significant conflict to take place in season 3. Nonetheless, with Prime Video already confirming that Sauron will forge the One Ring this season, and the above image appearing to show the Dark Lord in a location that looks close to Mount Doom, aka the place he makes his prized and magical trinket, the scene is being set for Sauron's attempts to try and tyranically rule over Middle-earth.
For more ahead of the live-action series' next outing, find out everything else we know so far about The Rings of Power season 3.
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