Who’s ready to return to Middle-earth? This September will finally see Prime Video’s long-awaited series set in Tolkien’s epic fantasy world hit our screens – taking us to a whole new age in the expansive mythology. Specifically, The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power – as it’s officially titled – is set in the Second Age, thousands of years prior to the events of The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings trilogies, around the forging of the many rings and the rise of Sauron as detailed in The Fellowship Of The Ring’s prologue. In many ways, it’ll be a return to a screen universe that’s beloved the world over – but according to Rings Of Power concept artist John Howe, there are surprises in store.
“This isn’t the Middle-earth you remember,” Howe tells Empire in the Summer Preview issue. “This is a world that’s very vibrant. The elves are not hidden away in Mirkwood or lingering in Rivendell. They’re busy constructing kingdoms. The dwarven kingdom of Moria is not an abandoned mine and the Grey Havens is not yet an abandoned city. I loved having the opportunity to explore that unseen history.” And while most of the Middle-earth we’ve seen on screen has involved mountainous, muddy, or marshy terrains, there’s a key new location to be explored this time. “We’re finally sailing on the oceans of Middle-earth,” teases Howe, promising a set of sea-faring elves. “They’re daunting and enterprising and are almost colonising the world. They were a lot of fun to imagine. It’s something neither Lord Of The Rings nor Hobbit movies went anywhere near.” Set course for new adventures.
Read Empire’s full The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power story in the Summer Preview issue, on sale Thursday 12 May and available to pre-order here. The Rings Of Power streams on Prime Video from 2 September.