THE RINGS OF POWER Season 4 Is Already in Development, but Prime Video Hasn’t Officially Greenlit It Yet
Ahead of the premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 this November, it’s being reported that Season 4 is already in development at Prime Video, even though the studio still hasn’t officially handed out the greenlight.
According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, the current plan is for pre-production on Season 4 to kick off this fall, with filming expected to begin in early 2027. So while Amazon hasn’t formally confirmed another season, it definitely sounds like the wheels are already turning behind the scenes.
It would be pretty surprising if the series didn’t continue. The fantasy epic was always mapped out as a five-season story, and despite mixed reactions from fans over the years, Prime Video clearly still sees value in returning to Tolkien’s world.
Season 1 launched in massive fashion and became the streamer’s most-watched original series. Season 2, however, reportedly saw a 60% drop in viewership. Even with that dip, Amazon still appears committed to seeing the story through.
Season 3 premieres on November 11, and the first tease for the new season revealed Sauron with dark hair wearing Morgoth’s Iron Crown, fully stepping away from the Annatar disguise audiences saw previously. It’s a sinister look that teases the series is heading into much darker territory.
Of course, The Rings of Power isn’t the only journey back to Middle-earth currently in the works. Andy Serkis is directing The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, while Stephen Colbert is co-writing another Lord of the Rings called Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, which will cover story elements that were cut from the original trilogy.
These projects are separate from Prime Video’s series continuity, but they all continue pulling inspiration from the legendary stories created by J. R. R. Tolkien.
There’s also some familiar talent returning to the franchise. Elijah Wood is coming back as Frodo for The Hunt for Gollum, alongside Ian McKellen returning as Gandalf. Meanwhile, Jamie Dornan is set to take on the role of Aragorn.
Whether fans are fully on board with The Rings of Power or not, there’s clearly no shortage of Middle-earth stories on the horizon. Between Prime Video’s massive fantasy series and Warner Bros.’ growing slate of films, Tolkien’s world is about to get very busy again.