Yesterday, Amazon Prime Video released its first figures for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerand announced that “40 million viewers” tuned in during the first 11 days. That statistic – which Amazon Studios boss Jennifer Salke shared in a memo obtained by Variety – sounds impressive, but it doesn’t, for example, indicate how many minutes those million viewers actually watched, an important consideration considering how many viewers the first season lost over time. It’s also not as good as the first season’s numbers. But it’s apparently enough to convince Amazon to stick to its original game plan for the Middle-earth series.
In an article by the Hollywood Reporter about the problems and concerns of Rings of Power— as well as the current soap opera drama about HBO’s House of the Dragon And game of Thrones Creator George RR Martin – the trade notes that “a third season (of Rings of Power) has been in the works for months, although it has not yet been officially greenlit.” In addition, “sources told THR after seeing ratings for the season two premiere, The company remains committed to the original five-season plan,” although, as the trade writes, “third-party services have seen a sharp decline (in ratings) since the series’ first season.”
io9 has reached out to Prime Video to ask if there is any news about Season 3 and if the report about the “five-season plan” is accurate. We will update this post if we receive a response.
Thousands of years before the Lord of the rings Stories that are best known to most people – from the books of JRR Tolkien, of course, but also from the hugely popular, Oscar-winning feature films by Peter Jackson –Rings of Power premiered in 2022 to great acclaim from diehard fans, TV critics, and even casual viewers curious to get a glimpse of what is said to be the most expensive show ever made (THR calls it “the $715 million series”). In the first season, however, the dazzling production values weren’t always enough to elevate a plot that many felt was too slow-moving; the titular rings didn’t enter the story until the final episode.
While the second season has picked up the pace quite a bit, there is even more Rings are now in play, not to mention a new undercover identity for main villain Sauron – some of the same complaints are still in play. Speaking to THR, co-showrunner JD Payne made it clear he is aware Rings of Power There are haters out there. “The community needed to look out for themselves and those who support them and remember what they’re fighting for,” he told the trade magazine. “And when we see millions of people watching this and responding so positively to it – that’s who we’re fighting for. And those who watch every episode and write (negatively) about it on social media and make YouTube videos, we’re glad to have you too. It wouldn’t be a journey through Middle Earth without a few trolls along the way.”
The fifth episode of the second season – which, like the first season, has a total of eight episodes – will be released tomorrow, September 12, on Prime Video. Stay tuned for five Seasons of Rings of Powerif Prime Video actually makes it to the end?
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