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NewsLos Angeles Times — EntertainmentNovember 5, 2026Los Angeles County

Prime Video details production and plot for Season 3 of 'The Rings of Power'

Photo: Los Angeles Times — Entertainment

Prime Video's fantasy series 'The Rings of Power' will debut the first four episodes of its third season on Nov. 11, featuring a darker tone, fewer characters, and an opening battle sequence filmed on location in Surrey. Creators Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne explain that the new season focuses on Sauron distributing rings of power and amassing control across Middle-earth following a five-year time jump.

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Why It Matters

Viewers and fans of the series gain insight into the production scale, timeline, and narrative direction for the upcoming third season of the high-budget streaming adaptation.

Key Facts

  • Season 3 of 'The Rings of Power' will debut its first four episodes on Nov. 11 on Prime Video.
  • The opening sequence of Season 3 features a battle between elven warriors, orcs, and wild men, shot over two weeks at Tilsey Farm in Surrey.
  • The new season jumps forward five years, depicting elves who are losing the war against Sauron.
  • Sauron has begun distributing the nine rings for men, and the storyline features a leaner focus with fewer characters and a darker tone.
  • Production for Season 3 utilized 14 locations, primarily private estates and Windsor Great Park, alongside Shepperton Studios.
  • Practical effects and sets were heavily emphasized, including an indoor Rivendell set built with real plants and trees that developed a microclimate.
  • The production maintained a stock of 100,000 props for Season 3, which includes more than 200 rings.
  • Neath Abbey, a 10th-century monastery in South Wales, was the only pre-existing building used for filming locations in the season.

Who's Mentioned

PersonPatrick McKay“Co-creator of 'The Rings of Power'”PersonRoy Taylor“Stunt coordinator”PersonCharlie Vickers“Actor playing Sauron”locationMiddle-earth“Fictional setting of the series”locationNeath Abbey“10th-century monastery in South Wales used for filming”PersonSauron“Character in the series”locationKhazad-dûm“Fictional dwarf home”PersonTina Jones“Set decorator”PersonJ.D. Payne“Co-creator of 'The Rings of Power'”PersonIsmael Cruz Córdova“Actor playing Arondir”locationShepperton Studios“Studio location”PersonJ.R.R. Tolkien“Author of the source material”PersonKristian Milsted“Production designer”PersonVic Armstrong“Stunt unit director”OrganizationThe Rings of Power“Prime Video television series”PersonJohn Howe“Concept artist”locationTilsey Farm“Private estate in Surrey used for filming”OrganizationAmazon“Parent company streaming the series”PersonCharlotte Brändström“Director for the series”PersonLibby Dempster“Costume designer”locationSouth Wales“Region where Neath Abbey is located”PersonMorfydd Clark“Actor playing Galadriel”locationWindsor Great Park“Filming location”locationSurrey“Filming location”