The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returns for its second season later this month, and Prime Video has released the first full clip featuring the return of a character who appeared to be killed-off in the season 1 finale.
Of course, any Tolkien fan would almost certainly have been aware that Isildur - the future King of Gondor who ultimately cuts the One Ring from Sauron's hand - wasn't really dead, but his father Elendil and the rest of his people believe he is.
In the clip, we see Isildur and a new character, Estrid, stop to help what appears to be a group of travellers in need before being ambushed by Wild Men. Things look bleak for Isildur, but Arondir comes to the rescue by unleashing a flurry of arrows.
We also have a new TV spot featuring Tom Bombadil and our first glimpse of "The Dark Wizard." This may turn out to be Sauruman, but it would be a pretty major change to the lore if he "broke bad" prior to the events of Tolkien's trilogy.
"Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will."
"Building on Season 1’s epic scope and ambition, Season 2 of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity."
"Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots... as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all.. each other."
Returning cast members include Morfydd Clark, Benjamin Walker, Charles Edwards, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Nazanin Boniadi, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Tyroe Muhafidin, Maxim Baldry, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Leon Wadham, Daniel Weyman, and Sara Zwangobani.
Sam Hazeldine (Peaky Blinders) replaces Joseph Mawle as Adar, with Ciarán Hinds (Game of Thrones), Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful), and Tanya Moodie (The Man Who Fell to Earth) joining the ensemble in key roles.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 returns to Prime Video on August 29.