Season 2 of “The Rings of Power” did not shoot in New Zealand, according to showrunner Patrick McKay. The fantasy classic Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, continues to be one of the best-selling books of all time. Peter Jackson’s epic cinematic adaptations of the book followed. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which made its theatrical premiere in 2001 with The Fellowship of the Ring, enjoyed tremendous box office success. Then, in 2017, Amazon shocked the fantasy community by revealing that it would make a Lord of the Rings TV series with a multi-season commitment for its streaming service.
“The Rings of Power” is a television series that is directed by J.D. Payne and McKay. It is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth. The first season of “The Rings of Power,” starring Robert Aramayo, Joseph Mawle, Maxim Baldry, Lenny Henry, Markella Kavenagh, Benjamin Walker, and Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, premieres on September 2; the first two episodes will be released on theaters two days beforehand. Season 1’s conclusion of production in West Auckland, New Zealand, was announced in 2021, and it was then made known that season 2 would shoot in the United Kingdom. Fans and Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood have criticized Amazon’s choice to shift production out of New Zealand.
In advance of the much-anticipated debut of “The Rings of Power” season 1, McKay now discusses the contentious decision to alter Middle-setting. Earth’s McKay thinks the transition is appropriate for the plot the series will be telling in an interview with The Playlist about “The Rings of Power” season 2 filming in the UK and Scotland. “The Rings of Power” filming in the UK brings up new opportunities and touches on Tolkien’s depiction of the British Isles, according to McKay, who did not provide any information about upcoming episodes. Here is a quote from McKay:
I think if we answered in too much detail, we’d spoil where the journey is going in future episodes. Suffice to say in the story, in Tolkien’s world, journeys to other lands are a major recurring theme. And so I think that’s a thing to think about. The other thing I would say is Tolkien was writing about the British Isles. He was writing about his own backyard and his description of the nature and the air here and the light here and the grass here is a huge part of those books. And I think the opportunity to kind of bring the property home feels like one that’s pregnant with possibilities.
Fans of the property were surprised by the decision to move the Lord of the Rings series from New Zealand because the locale has long been identified with Middle-earth. The travel to diverse lands is the overarching motif of Tolkien’s works, as Payne and McKay convincingly argue in their concept for season 2. By entering new realms for season 2, the Rings of Power television series may provide fresh perspectives on Tolkien’s world.
Since Lord of the Rings fans have praised the series as a cinematic extravaganza, the first round of early reviews for “The Rings of Power” has undoubtedly increased anticipation for the first two episodes. The Rings of Power highlights numerous Tolkien literary features not shown in the film adaptations, like the island realm of Nmenor, Harfoots, and female orcs. As a result, “The Rings of Power’s” move to the United Kingdom fits with the show’s overall tone and offers a fresh setting for subsequent seasons. On September 2, “The Rings of Power” made its Amazon debut.
“The Rings of Power” Trailer Has LOTR and Game of Thrones Fans Eager For More Fantasy Series