It’s never been a better time to be a fan of The Lord of the Rings. Not only will they be getting new movies with The Hunt for Gollum and the Stephen Colbert-penned Lord of the Rings: The Shadow of the Past, but they’ll also have the chance to potentially meet cast members at FanExpo events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. There’s also the fact that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is finally set to make its grand return, as Prime Video recently confirmed that Season 3 will premiere this November. However, that premiere date means The Rings of Power is set to go head-to-head with another major fantasy franchise.
That franchise is none other than Harry Potter, which is receiving its own television adaptation on HBO Max. It’s pretty clear that HBO sees Harry Potter as its next big series; the cast includes character actors like John Lithgow and Nick Frost, and Harry Potter even scored an early Season 2 renewal before Season 1 aired a single episode. Add in the fact that Harry Potter premieres on Christmas Day, and you have all the ingredients for a smash hit. Yet The Rings of Power could potentially win this fantasy face-off, thanks to the story Season 3 is tackling.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Is Heading into One of Middle-earth’s Biggest Stories
Charlie Vickers as Sauron in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 2.Image via Prime Video
While The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power takes place thousands of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it features characters who will play major roles in that trilogy. Chief among them is the Dark Lord Sauron (Charlie Vickers), who’s slowly been transforming into the malevolent presence that Lord of the Rings fans know and fear. Season 3 is about to further cement Sauron’s legend, as it finally delves into his crafting of the One Ring of Power. Not only does the One Ring grant Sauron dominion over all of Middle-earth, but it’s the driving force behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. On top of delving into the One Ring’s creation, The Rings of Power Season 3 will also feature a time jump that dives into the war between Sauron and the race of elves. This gives it a major advantage over the Harry Potter series, as a story set thousands of years before the original Lord of the Rings gives showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay a large canvas to work with. Prime Video intends to let them paint on said canvas for a while, as the streamer not only intends to give The Rings of Power a five-season commitment but also confirmed that it’s been a major driver in attracting new subscribers.
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The Fate of ‘The Rings of Power’ Has Been Decided
Prime Video has finally made a decision on their fan-favorite Lord of the Rings series.
Unlike ‘The Rings of Power’, ‘Harry Potter’ Is Facing an Uphill Battle
Unlike The Rings of Power, the upcoming Harry Potter series has confirmed that it intends to fully adapt J.K. Rowling’s novels. This is a bit of a double-edged sword: while the series will finally adapt characters like Peeves the Poltergeist,it’s already telling a story that has been covered in a series of well-received movies. Hardcore fans might tune in, but other viewers might be hard-pressed to stick with a series that’s covered well-worn ground. That’s not even getting into the mountain of controversies surrounding Rowling, which has soured some of those longtime fans’ attachment to the Wizarding World. Despite this uphill battle, HBO remains as committed to Harry Potter as Prime Video is to The Rings of Power, with Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav even confirming a ten-year plan when the series was first announced.
“My wife and I, we read (the Harry Potter books) to each of our three kids….It’s really moving, for ten consecutive years, people will see Harry Potter on HBO; I mean it’s really something.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Harry Potter have sparked a fantasy face-off unseen since their respective movie adaptations premiered in 2001. While The Rings of Power might have the edge, time will tell which franchise shall reign supreme on television.
Seasons 1 & 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are available to stream on Prime Video, while Season 3 premieres on November 11, 2026.
Release Date
September 1, 2022
Network
Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner
John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip
