Every Character In The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Explained
"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" will explore Middle-earth as audiences have never seen it before. Set in the Second Age, thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," this series concerns the rise of Sauron, the forging of the Rings of Power, and the cataclysmic wars that follow. According to Vanity Fair, it will span five seasons and could cost Amazon more than $1 billion.
Ambition is the name of the game, then, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the show's cast of characters. "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is set to follow no fewer than 22 lead characters across a number of storylines, each taking place in a different region of Middle-earth. From Elves to Dwarves to Harfoots and from the darkest depths of Khazad-dûm to the highest towers of Númenor, showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne have left no stone unturned in their depiction of Tolkien's vast legendarium.
In recent months, McKay and Payne have revealed some of the key players in this chapter of Middle-earth's history, while marketing materials have teased others and set leaks have done the rest. Now, we finally have a clear picture of this series' path, as well as the heroes and villains who will walk it. This is every character in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," explained.
Galadriel
Galadriel is no stranger to fans of "The Lord of the Rings." The Lady of Lórien is one of the most memorable and important characters Tolkien ever created, and Cate Blanchett's portrayal of her in the movie adaptations is nothing less than iconic. The version of Galadriel we meet in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," however, may not be the one you're expecting.
This story begins in a time of relative peace, after the defeat of the Dark Lord Morgoth and the world-shattering War of Wrath that closed out the First Age. Vanity Fair has revealed that Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is considerably more brazen at this point, as she hunts down the remnants of Morgoth's forces to avenge her brother's death.
It's during this mission that Galadriel encounters Halbrand, a mortal man whose fate is apparently intertwined with that of the future Elf-queen. Images released by Vanity Fair make it clear she'll also be spending some time with Elrond in the Elven realm of Lindon, while rumors posted by Fellowship of Fans suggest she will visit the island kingdom of Númenor during Season 1. Considering the breadth of these travels, as well as her prominent place in the show's promotion, it seems like this younger, more reckless Galadriel is one of the main characters of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," if not the outright protagonist.
Elrond
During the late Third Age, Elrond is one of the most highly respected and experienced Elf-lords still remaining in Middle-earth. You're probably well aware of his role in Tolkien's more famous works: In "The Hobbit," he briefly allows Thorin Oakenshield's company to stay in Rivendell; in "The Lord of the Rings," he heals Frodo after the attack on Weathertop, hosts the Council of Elrond, and takes one of the last ships into the west.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" will feature a very different Elrond. Described by Vanity Fair as young and determined, this Elrond (Robert Aramayo) appears to play a part in the politics-heavy Lindon storyline. According to a trailer breakdown by Vanity Fair, he'll also pay a visit to the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, suggesting the young Elf-lord's politicking may extend beyond his homeland's borders.
You can expect far greater things from Elrond as the series goes on. Over the course of the Second Age, he proves himself as a military commander during the Elves' conflict with Sauron, establishes Rivendell, takes possession of Vilya, the Ring of Air, and helps overthrow the Dark Lord in the War of the Last Alliance. There can be little doubt that these events will be depicted in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," and that, by the end of Season 5, this young Elf will have grown into the great leader he is destined to become.
Gil-galad
One of the most exciting aspects of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is that it will bring characters who have previously been little more than legend to the screen. Gil-galad is High King of the Noldor and ruler of Lindon, the Elven realm that lies in the western regions of Middle-earth. A wise leader and fierce warrior, Gil-galad appears in a poem recited by Samwise Gamgee, which tells of his keen lance, shining helm, silver shield ... and eventual fall into darkness. Indeed, you could reasonably argue that Gil-galad, as a keen military commander and sworn enemy of Sauron, is the most important Elf to live in Middle-earth during the Second Age.
In "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) appears to be exactly as magnificent as his reputation suggests. The first trailer for the series offers a brief glimpse of the character: He wears golden robes and stares at a mysterious comet soaring through the sky. Another image, released in Empire Magazine's June 2022 exclusive on "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" sees him awarding Galadriel a crown of golden laurels. Yet another shot appears to show the Elf-king hosting a magnificent feast for a few Dwarven visitors. These are mere hints towards Gil-galad's greater importance, of course, but it seems certain we'll see much, much more of him in the coming years.
Celebrimbor
In June 2022, Empire Magazine released a flurry of new images from "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Perhaps the most contentious of these was a shot of Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor. "Great actor but I really dislike the look," commented one Reddit user in a thread discussing the new image. "He looks way too old and stuffy for Celebrimbor," said another.
You might forgive these commenters for being so protective of Celebrimbor, considering the pivotal role he plays in the history of Middle-earth. A skilled smith who witnesses the many calamities of the First Age, Celebrimbor is best known for forging the Rings of Power. He first makes several lesser rings, crafted under the tutelage of a disguised Sauron. Then, by himself, he creates the more powerful Three Rings. After Sauron reveals himself and forges the One Ring, things go south pretty quickly for Celebrimbor. But that's a story for another day — and another season.
However cranky they currently feel, fans might rest a little easier knowing that Charles Edwards is a renowned actor of both stage and screen, having starred in shows such as "The Crown" and "Downton Abbey," as well as productions of "Richard II" and "Much Ado About Nothing." In short, Celebrimbor is in very good hands.
Adar
All the way back in 2019, Deadline reported that "Game of Thrones" star Joseph Mawle had been cast as the show's villain, Oren. Since Sauron is the principal threat to Middle-earth during the Second Age, this led many to assume "Oren" was a production codename and that Mawle was, in fact, playing the Dark Lord himself.
They were half right. In November 2021, Tolkien fan account Terra-média Brasil leaked a character sheet that revealed "Oren" is indeed a pseudonym ... for a character named Adar. The sheet describes this character as "Elf, tortured, corrupted, turned [into] warlord." Subsequent leaks and rumors posted by Fellowship of Fans suggest Adar will lead an Orc-band hunting an enigmatic artifact, and that he will face off against Sauron. Most intriguingly, this account claimed in a YouTube video that Adar may be revealed to be one of Galadriel's brothers — perhaps the same brother she's searching for as the series begins.
This would be an astonishing break from Tolkien's canon. The notion of an evil Elf is foreign enough to Middle-earth — save, perhaps, for morally unscrupulous Elves such as the Dark Elf Eöl. Imagining Galadriel's brother as a corrupted warlord borders on the sacrilegious. At the very least, it will be fascinating to see how McKay and Payne might attempt to pull off a twist like this.
Prince Durin IV
Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) is set to be one of the most important Dwarven characters in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." He graced the cover of Empire Magazine alongside his wife, Princess Disa, looks suitably worried in the teaser trailer, and was given his own portrait in Vanity Fair's run-down on the series. But who is he?
Durin IV is a Second Age ruler of Khazad-dûm and a bearer of one of the rings of power. His name is important: Every once in a while, a prince or king of the House of Durin is born who is almost identical in appearance and manner to Durin the Deathless, eldest of the Dwarves, who first awoke many millennia ago. These Dwarves are named Durin, and are believed by their kin to be a genuine reincarnation of the original. In total, six Durins have existed throughout Middle-earth's history.
While it's currently unclear what specific part Prince Durin will have to play in the series, you can safely bet he'll be playing it from within the kingdom of Khazad-dûm, later known as Moria. Tolkien writes in "The Lord of the Rings" that even as Sauron's forces spread across Middle-earth, Khazad-dûm remained unconquered, due to the strength and bravery of its people. It's likely Prince Durin will be leading them for much of the show's run.
King Durin III
The Dwarven storyline in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" poses a curious question: If Durin IV is prince of Khazad-dûm, who's the king? The answer: Durin III. Despite the fact that, in Tolkien's writings, Durin III and Durin IV live thousands of years apart, they'll be brought together in the new series by its condensed timeline. This will avoid huge time jumps and associated issues with human characters' mortality.
In the original text, Durin III has a much more explicit role in the events surrounding Sauron's rise than Durin IV. This is the king who is first gifted a ring of power by Sauron and who later leads his Dwarves into battle against the Dark Lord before retreating to Khazad-dûm and closing the Doors of Durin for good. It should be expected that the relationship between father and son will be severely tested as the days grow darker for the Dwarves of Moria.
Who is playing the formidable Durin III? We don't really know yet. That said, Vanity Fair described the actor playing him as "someone who knows something about playing a bad dad." This suggests he might be portrayed by Peter Mullan, a confirmed cast member known for his role as a fearsome family patriarch in the celebrated mystery series "Top of the Lake."
Princess Disa
Rounding out the show's Dwarven protagonists is Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete). Nomvete is both the first Black woman to play a Dwarf in a Middle-earth project and the first female Dwarf ever depicted in a Tolkien adaptation.
Currently, there's not a lot else we know about Disa. Considering she's a princess and is holding hands with Prince Durin IV on the cover of Empire Magazine, we can safely assume she is the younger Durin's wife. The first teaser trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" also shows her singing and raising her hands in some kind of ceremony taking place in Khazad-dûm. This lines up with an earlier leak from Fellowship of Fans, which suggests that Disa takes part in a mourning ritual honoring the lives lost in a cave collapse.
Interestingly, the same leak suggests that Season 1 will include a Dwarven "religious sect." Could Disa be a leader of this group, or some kind of priestess? How might she play into the politics of the subterranean kingdom? What impact will she have on the fates of the two Durins? Only time will tell.
Arondir
Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) was created for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." He's one of the Silvan Elves, who populate the Greenwood (later Mirkwood) and Lothlórien. But Arondir's journey takes him far beyond these forest realms. According to Vanity Fair, Arondir will fall into a forbidden romance with Bronwyn, a human woman. This storyline seems inspired by other human-Elf romances in Tolkien's work: Aragorn and Arwen in "The Lord of the Rings" and Beren and Lúthien in "The Silmarillion" are prominent examples. These instances are only "forbidden" in the sense that greater players (Elrond and Thingol, respectively) disapprove; Elves aren't inherently forbidden from loving humans. It has yet to be revealed what troubles underlie Arondir and Bronwyn's relationship.
Somewhat less murky is the setting for this drama. Bronwyn's village, Tirharad, is specific to the series, but the name — literally "near Harad" in Sindarin — suggests it's close to Harad, a mysterious region located south of Mordor. An image released by Empire Magazine showing Arondir atop a watchtower offers more information: The geography of the valley below bears a striking resemblance to the river Anduin, the hills of Emyn Arnen, and the Ephel Dúath mountain range that makes up Mordor's western border. This could mean much of Arondir's Season 1 story takes place in and around the forests later known as Ithilien — the perfect home for a lovesick wood-Elf.
Bronwyn and Theo
Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) is one-half of the Middle-earth ménage à deux found in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." An inhabitant of Tirharad, Bronwyn was revealed by Vanity Fair to be a healer and a single mother to son Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin). Little else is known about the woman who loves Arondir, although two images released by Amazon Studios do offer a few hints. One shot, which captures Bronwyn standing by a stream, seems pretty unassuming, but two aspects are worthy of note: She wears a regal crimson cloak and is surrounded by rugged, rocky terrain. This setting doesn't look like any other shot of Tirharad we've seen so far.
In the other photograph, Theo is shown wielding the broken sword featured in one of the original "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" character posters. This weapon is a total mystery. Speculation has run rampant that it could be Gurthang, the sword of Túrin Turambar, but rights restrictions prevent Amazon from using material found solely in "The Silmarillion." Either way, it's clear that Theo has some kind of connection to the wider events of the Second Age, and that the Tirharad storyline will reach far beyond the secret romance at its core.
Halbrand
A character created for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) is a mortal man described by Vanity Fair as "running from the past." The few images we've seen of him give little away. One shows him in some kind of workshop, brooding over a strange leather pouch. Hanging on a nearby wall is a sword with a carving of a horse's head on the pommel. You may recognize this from one of the character posters released in February 2022. While it might be easy to assume this has something to do with the Rohirrim, it's worth remembering that the Horse-lords of Rohan don't exist at this point in Middle-earth's history. Halbrand's sword likely indicates he is Númenórean: Tolkien writes in "Unfinished Tales" that the Dúnedain loved horses and riding and became so attuned to their steeds, they could call them to their side by merely thinking it so.
The prospect of Halbrand's Númenórean ancestry is backed up by a second image, which shows him wearing a tunic marked with a solar symbol similar to one found on another character poster. Fans have speculated this icon may belong to the Númenórean noble Elendil. That's as far as our knowledge of Halbrand goes, currently. It'll probably be a long time before we find out who he really is, what he's running from, and what he might become.
The Stranger
The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) is by far the most mysterious character in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Vanity Fair's teaser breakdown confirms that he arrives in Middle-earth via fireball, which can be seen streaking across the sky. The relationship between the Stranger and the curious Harfoots who first encounter him seems to be a series focus.
The Stranger could be a wizard, but he probably isn't — and even if he is, he almost certainly won't be one you're thinking of. Gandalf, Radagast, and Saruman all come to Middle-earth in the Third Age, long after the events of the show take place. The Stranger might be one of the two Blue Wizards, but it seems odd to introduce one with such fanfare and not the other. All things considered, it's not particularly plausible that the Stranger is one of the Istari.
So who is he? Well, you might want to consider a character you won't find elsewhere on this list — someone who is guaranteed to play a major role in the series. One of the most famous aspects of Sauron's story during the Second Age is that he comes to the Elves disguised in a form so fair, few suspect his true identity. What better way of delivering a truly shocking twist than to make the audience believe they're watching a kindly wizard befriend a humble Harfoot ... when they are, in fact, witnessing the return of the new Dark Lord?
The Harfoots
Nobody expected to see Hobbits in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," mostly because they don't really show up in Middle-Earth's history until the Third Age. And yet, here they are — or at least, their antecedents. The Harfoots, like the Hobbits, are short and have hairy feet, but that's where the resemblance ends. As Lenny Henry, who plays Sadoc Burrows, told Empire Magazine, the Harfoots are a nomadic group. The show's particular Harfoots — Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards), Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith), and Marigold Brandyfoot (Sara Zwangobani) – encounter the Stranger on their travels, which changes their lives forever.
The series' depiction of this tribe of Hobbits is almost entirely lifted from "Concerning Hobbits," the first chapter of "The Lord of the Rings." This prologue explains that, in the so-called "Wandering Days," Hobbits inhabited the upper vales of Anduin to the east of the Misty Mountains. According to Tolkien, "the Harfoots had much to do with Dwarves in ancient times, and long lived in the foothills of the mountains." Only when the fortress of Dol Guldur rose in the early Third Age did the Hobbits migrate westwards, eventually settling in the lands that became the Shire. Clearly, these aren't the simple, merry gardeners we all know and love. But the Harfoots' tale should nevertheless offer up a tantalizing opportunity to explore the secret history of one of Middle-earth's most remarkable races.
Isildur
One crucial storyline in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" has thus far been suspiciously absent from most marketing material: Númenor. Aside from an impressive shot of the port city in the first teaser trailer, we've learned very little about this side of the series. Because of the show's condensed timeline, we can assume the movers and shakers of late Númenórean history will be present from the outset, including Isildur, son of Elendil and future king of Gondor.
At this point in time, Isildur is heir to the lordship of Andúnië, a seaport located on the island's west coast. Notably, he is not yet king, and at the beginning of the story, does not expect to become one. As the days grow darker and Sauron's shadow falls upon Númenor, however, Isildur will doubtlessly be drawn into the Dark Lord's deadly schemes. If you're familiar with "The Lord of the Rings," you know this ends tragically.
Fellowship of Fans has revealed that Isildur will be played by Maxim Baldry, and that he'll be a main character. Yet another set report claims he'll accompany Galadriel, Elendil, and the Númenórean queen Míriel on a maritime journey to Middle-earth. Isildur's friends Nolion, Valandil, and Ontamo will be along for the ride. Where exactly are they going and why? Your guess is as good as ours.
Elendil
Better known to "Lord of the Rings" fans as High King of the Dúnedain and founder of both Gondor and Arnor, Elendil's rise to glory — and eventual death at the hands of Sauron — is sure to be a key arc in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power."
Early on, though, he's merely a Númenórean lord, albeit a powerful one. According to a leak posted by Fellowship of Fans, Elendil will head up recruitment efforts and lead the Númenórean fleet on its voyage to Middle-earth. Tolkien writes in the appendices to "The Lord of the Rings" that the Númenóreans began to settle in Middle-earth around S.A. 1200, a few hundred years before the forging of the Rings of Power. Since the series condenses the timeline to a single generation, it makes sense that Season 1 will see the island nation spread its influence across Middle-earth. Elendil, it appears, will lead that effort. As the seasons go by, expect to see him come increasingly into conflict with Ar-Pharazôn, king of Númenor, as the latter falls under the influence of the Dark Lord.
Amazon Studios hasn't revealed who will be playing Elendil, but in October 2021, Fellowship of Fans reported that prolific actor Lloyd Owen will be taking the part.
Ar-Pharazôn
An epic saga is only as great as its monsters. While Sauron will undoubtedly be doing much of the heavy lifting in this department in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," Númenórean king Ar-Pharazôn is nothing to be trifled with.
Ar-Pharazôn the Golden becomes king of Númenor after forcibly marrying Míriel, daughter of Tar-Palantir, the previous king. After Sauron conquers much of Middle-earth and declares himself King of Men, an infuriated Ar-Pharazôn invades the mainland, swiftly and decisively defeating the Dark Lord. When the Númenóreans take Sauron back to their homeland as a hostage, however, he quickly gets to work corrupting them for his own ends. Ar-Pharazôn's subsequent fall into darkness has world-changing consequences.
Fellowship of Fans revealed in December 2021 that Trystan Gravelle will be playing Ar-Pharazôn. In Season 1, though, he will likely be known only as "Pharazôn," as a previously leaked character sheet revealed he is merely a subject of Tar-Palantir and an advisor to his future wife Míriel when the series begins. According to Fellowship of Fans, the show's Pharazon is a brilliant, authoritative, and self-important type, which suggests the character's wicked personality is already fully formed, even if his tragic fate has yet to play out.
Tar-Míriel
Míriel is the daughter of Tar-Palantir, the king of Númenor, and the unwilling wife-to-be of Pharazôn. Tolkien wrote little about Tar-Míriel, aside from the disturbing nature of her marriage, but it appears that she'll be a significant part of the Númenórean storyline in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power."
In January 2022, Fellowship of Fans reported that Míriel will experience visions of Númenor's eventual destruction. They also reported that Míriel will be a queen during the events of the show, though her father is still alive. It's not yet known why this might be. Fellowship of Fans also claimed she'll be a savvy, intelligent, and compassionate ruler, and will see action in at least one battle after joining the Númenórean expedition to Middle-earth.
Nobody knows who'll be playing Tar-Míriel. Going off the show's cast list, however, it has been speculated that she might be portrayed by either Maxine Cunliffe, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, or Thusitha Jayasundera. Whoever it is, it's clear that the show's version of Míriel will have much more impact on the history of Middle-earth than her literary counterpart.
Tar-Palantir
Tar-Palantir is unusual among the late kings of Númenor. Though his immediate predecessors mistrusted the Elves and the god-like Valar, he takes a royal name in the Elvish language Quenya, as well as the Quenyan title "Tar," as opposed to Ar, taken from the Númenórean language Adûnaic. This puts him at odds with his own people, who are provoked by Pharazôn and his father Gimilkhâd into open rebellion. After Tar-Palantir dies, Pharazôn usurps the throne and marries his daughter, Míriel, giving her the name Ar-Zimraphel in the process.
According to the character sheet leaked by Terra-média Brasil, Tar-Palantir is definitely in the show, though Fellowship of Fans speculated in June 2022 that he won't be a major player. We currently have no idea who'll be playing him. Most probably, Tar-Palantir will be an elderly ruler with diminished authority as the series opens. His main purpose will be to open up a power vacuum, allowing the villainous Pharazôn to ascend to the throne of Númenor.
The Númenóreans
"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" will feature a number of ancillary Númenórean characters, all of whom are original to the series. The first is Carine, Isildur's sister, who, according to Fellowship of Fans, will be played by Ema Horvath. The same leak revealed that Carine is set against Isildur's decision to join the Númenórean expedition to Middle-earth; at one point, she chases him through the city streets as he leads his soldiers to war.
Meanwhile, actor Simon Merrells' profile on his agent's website claims he's playing a character named Trevyn in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." It's not apparent whether this is a production codename or not. The only indication he's even Númenórean is that his name doesn't sound particularly Elven or Dwarven.
Finally, there's Kemen. Described by the leaked character sheet as Pharazôn's son, Kemen will, according to Fellowship of Fans, spend Season 1 involved in a romance with Carine. The same outlet claimed in March 2022 that Pharazôn will have a protégé character, possibly played by Leon Wadham or Fabian McCallum, but it's not certain whether this figure is Kemen or somebody else.
Finrod Felagund
One of the most intriguing shots in the series' teaser trailer features a young Elf clad in golden armor, fighting Orcs in the rain. Speculation as to this Elf's identity was quickly cut short when Fellowship of Fans revealed three things: This is Finrod Felagund, he is played by Will Fletcher, and the battle in question takes place in the First Age of Middle-earth.
There's a lot to digest here. In Tolkien's writing, Finrod is an Elven king and brother of Galadriel. He plays a key role in the events of the First Age and eventually gives his life to save Beren from torture at the hands of Sauron, who at that point is merely a lieutenant of the Dark Lord Morgoth. The battle in question could easily be the epic Dagor Bragollach or even a glimpse of Beren's quest for the Silmaril. Unfortunately, most of this material is found in "The Silmarillion," which means Amazon Studios can't use it for the series.
Luckily, the appendices of "The Lord of the Rings" do mention a few key details about Finrod, including his familial relationship with Galadriel and the manner of his death. The odds are that Finrod's appearance in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" will be relegated to the show's prologue, which, with some clever trickery and editing, could feasibly depict Middle-earth's ancient history without committing copyright infringement.
Season 2 and beyond
In May 2022, Amazon invited a number of Tolkien fan blogs, websites, and YouTubers to a special event in London, where they were introduced to the showrunners and shown footage from "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." A month later, Fellowship of Fans posted a YouTube video which discusses some of the topics covered during the event.
According to the channel, McKay and Payne told the attendees they have plans for all the characters in the Second Age, specifically naming Celeborn and Celebrían as examples. These names will be familiar to fans of "The Lord of the Rings": Celeborn is Galadriel's husband, while Celebrían is Elrond's ill-fated wife.
Neither Celeborn nor Celebrían will be appearing in Season 1. For a long time, their absence from the cast list was pretty conspicuous. Now, though, we know that these two characters will simply be making their debut at a later point. This makes total sense, considering how many characters are due to appear in the series — it stands to reason that a few may need to be kept off the board for a while. And, if nothing else, it's greatly reassuring to know that the storytellers behind "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" know exactly where their tale is headed.