The Lord of the Rings Is Officially Changing Main Characters Again Next Month

The Lord of the Rings franchise is changing main characters next month, and it’s not the first time that’s happened — but it is the most interesting example of it. Frodo takes center stage throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy, with the rest of the Fellowship proving crucial to completing his mission. Because of this, Frodo is often regarded as the face of the franchise.

Yet Frodo isn’t the only character to helm an adventure in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world. Bilbo is at the heart of The Hobbit, in both the book and movie trilogy, and Hera Hammerhand is the hero of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The Rings of Power also puts a new lead in the spotlight through Galadriel, even if it has a larger ensemble cast.

And the show seems to be shifting focus again in The Rings of Power Season 3, which is set to debut on Nov. 11, 2026. Although prior seasons heavily emphasized Galadriel’s journey — and this one will continue it — the trailer and promotional materials place more weight on a darker narrative: Sauron’s.

Sauron Promises to Be the Focal Point of ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 3

The Rings of Power Season 3 marks a turning point for the Prime Video series, as things promise to get darker in this coming chapter. After Sauron’s win at Eregion in Season 2, that’s not much of a surprise. Given the confirmed five-year time jump, viewers can expect to see the fallout of his actions across Middle-earth. Yet the more interesting shift is how Sauron appears to be portrayed in the new episodes.

With Sauron’s quest to create the One Ring at the forefront of Season 3, the show looks poised to dig deeper into the Dark Lord’s takeover from his own perspective. The other Rings of Power characters won’t be forgotten, but Sauron’s journey is at the forefront of this chapter. His goals and frustrations will drive it, and viewers will get more insight into his experience as he expands his power.

The show gradually builds to this shift. Sauron is in hiding in The Rings of Power Season 1, serving as a looming threat more than an actual villain or lead. After Season 1’s Halbrand reveal, Season 2 gives us more of his perspective — but it’s balanced by those of the people he’s deceiving, like Celebrimbor.

Season 3 promises to show Sauron operating openly and to take us on that journey with him. It’s an exciting prospect, as it allows the Prime Video series to unpack a villain who could benefit from greater depth. However, it does mark a first for the Lord of the Rings franchise — and likely a temporary tonal change as well.

This ‘Lord of the Rings’ First Will Mark a Tonal Shift for the Franchise

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Centering Sauron in The Rings of Power Season 3 is an intriguing way to fill the gaps between the Second Age and Frodo’s story. It’s likely to come with a tonal shift, though. Tolkien’s story and its offshoots can get dark at times, but there’s usually a strong undercurrent of hope. That’s because readers and viewers are almost always following a heroic main character, one who has the good of Middle-earth in mind.

There will still be plenty of those in The Rings of Power Season 3. However, its emphasis on Sauron will place audiences in the mind of someone with more sinister goals. That’s a franchise first, as no other Tolkien adaptation digs so thoroughly into the experience of its villain. It makes for well-rounded storytelling, but the show could feel more like a dark fantasy tale than Lord of the Rings for a while.

Given how the Second Age ends — with Isildur cutting the One Ring from Sauron’s finger — this should be temporary. The Rings of Power will keep the spirit of Middle-earth alive through its other characters, who will eventually triumph over the Dark Lord. Viewers will need to make it through a darker storyline to get there, but that’ll make it more worthwhile when they do.

Release Date

September 1, 2022

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Showrunner

John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip

Directors

J.A. Bayona, Sanaa Hamri

Writers

Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams