The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power came under fire for some unexpected creative decisions and, more disappointingly, the fact it starred a diverse cast. The most expensive TV series ever made, the response was ultimately a mostly positive one, with Prime Video's investment seemingly paying off once they started touting vague viewership figures.
Deadline recently spoke with Vernon Sanders, Head of Global TV for Amazon Studios, and he reiterated that this financial bet is one that "has more than paid off" for Prime Video.
He was also asked how production, which moved from New Zealand to the UK, on season 2 is currently going.
"Season 1 had so much establishing to do that we now get to have the fun of seeing the story ramp up as Sauron is revealed," he teases. "And I think audiences can look forward to a show that, while it feels true to itself, feels like the stakes are ever higher and now that the rings are in play, seeing what they can do and seeing how the various factions within the world deal with those implications. I think it’s going to be really compelling."
"We’re going to new lands, and there are new expansive things happening in season two. And part of the benefit of being in the UK is that we’re going to be able to shoot in places that look very different than what we saw in season one. We’re able to shoot all across Europe, and we will see some of that production value on screen."
After promising that fans can expect "bigger battles" in season 2, Sanders was also asked to share some insights into the decision to recast one of the show's leads, Adar (played by Joseph Mawle in season 1).
"Unfortunately it didn’t work out. And with a show that had this many series regulars and this many recurring characters, it unfortunately happened. Joseph was tremendous and gave an incredible performance. We’re also excited about our new actor. The character of Adar in Season 2 has some really exciting dynamic things to play."
It's always a shame when an actor is recast, but it sounds like it was inevitable in this instance. We're sure The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power won't suffer too much, and despite a shift in location, we're hoping the show will still deliver the sort of epic visuals that made the first eight episodes feel so epic in scale.
As expected, Sanders also pointed out that we're unlikely to see season 2 until 2024. With that in mind, it's probably going to be a while before any sort of first look is revealed!