Three key Rings of Power characters spotted on the coast of Dorset, U.K. in huge location shoot with Prime Video
It seems that after, two seasons and six years, a long-expected meeting will finally occur during The Rings of Power season 3. Fans have been wondering when Gil Galad would meet his Numenorian counterparts for some elven diplomacy. Courtesy of professional scenic photographers Portland Bill, 20 photos were posted today from a location shoot for the third season of The Lord of the Rings show.
SPOILERS ALERT! 🚨🚨🚨
In these photos you can clearly see Gil-Galad (with his spear, Aeglos), Ar-Pharazôn (the Golden) and Elrond Half-elven all meeting on an ocean cliff. Could this be on the island of Numenor, or the coast of Middle-earth?
Fans are talking all about these photos in TORN Discord, the number one server for Tolkien fans.
Staffer Demosthenes here. My immediate impression is that the trio are waiting for someone (or a lot of someones) to arrive from the sea. Some additional info from aham_photos via a Tik Tok vid seems to support that:
…it was about two hours of them staring into the distance while the helicopter got loads of different shots.
There’s a section of Unfinished Tales that speaks of the “great armament” of then-king of Numenor, Tar-Minastir, arriving in the “very nick of time” to save Lindon from the depradations of Sauron and his hosts.
In 1695, when Sauron invaded Eriador, Gil-galad called on Númenor for aid. Then Tar-Minastir the King sent out a great navy; but it was delayed, and did not reach the coasts of Middle-earth until the year 1700. By that time Sauron had mastered all Eriador, save only besieged Imladris, and had reached the line of the River Lhûn. He had summoned more forces which were approaching from the south-east, and were indeed in Enedwaith at the Crossing of Tharbad, which was only lightly held. Gil-galad and the Númenóreans were holding the Lhûn in desperate defence the Grey Havens, when in the very nick of time the great armament of Tar-Minastir came in [emphasis mine]; and Sauron’s host was heavily defeated and driven back. The Númenórean admiral Ciryatur sent part of his ships to make a landing further to the south.
Now, supposing that Pharazôn is filling this Minastir/Ciryatur role (time compression), then maybe the trio are watching the arrival of the aforementioned armament having struck some grand bargain.
It would have to be some bargain, mind, maybe one of desperation, given Pharazôn has no real sense of fellowship with the Noldor. The king’s men and the elves are estranged. so it would need to be a very convincing “enemy of my enemy is my friend” thing, if you will.
One thing that comes to mind (big ups to Natasha on our Discord for mentioning this!) is the southern expansion of Sauron along the coasts that Akallabeth documents.
And sitting upon his carven throne in the city of Armenelos in the glory of his power, [Pharazôn] brooded darkly, thinking of war. For he had learned in Middle-earth of the strength of the realm of Sauron, and of his hatred of Westernesse. And now there came to him the masters of ships and captains returning out of the East, and they reported that Sauron was putting forth his might, since Ar-Pharazôn had gone back from Middle-earth, and he was pressing down upon the cities by the coasts; and he had taken now the title of King of Men, and declared his purpose to drive the Númenóreans into the sea, and destroy even Númenor, if that might be.
If Sauron were to also threaten Pelargir, where Kemen is based, that might force Pharazôn’s hand. This ultimately, ought to give Pharazôn the opportunity to take Sauron back to Numenor (at the end of S3) — very likely against the advice of his temporary allies.
The War of the Rohirrim and The Rings of Power are both nominated in one of the most prestigious music awards competitions.
According to Variety, which has the entire nominees list, two The Lord of the Rings projects are individually nominated in their respective categories. Bear McCreary (Instagram) is nominated for Season 2 of The Rings of Power, and Stephen Gallagher (Instagram) is nominated for The War of the Rohirrim. This marks the first time in history that Tolkien adaptations in both TV and Film are recognized for excellence at the same time.
World Soundtrack Nominees
Here are the categories LOTR is competitive in for 2025 World Soundtrack Awards.
Television Composer of the Year
Volker Bertelmann – “The Day of the Jackal”; “Dune: Prophecy”; “The Count of Monte Cristo”
David Fleming, Gustavo Santaolalla – “The Last of Us” (Season 2)
Ariel Marx – “Dying for Sex”
Bear McCreary – “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” (Season 2)
Martin Phipps – “Black Doves”
Theodore Shapiro – “Severance” (Season 2)
Public Choice Award
“Buio come il cuore” (Dark Is the Heart) – David Cerquetti
“Hola Frida” – Laetitia Pansanel-Garric
“Ni chaînes ni maîtres” – Amine Bouhafa
“Reagan” – John Coda
“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” – Stephen Gallagher
Want to talk more about music from The Lord of the Rings? Join the Discord where members alerted us to this news first!
This week in The Lord of the Rings news with Bakshi, board games, film budgets, and the latest gossip for movies, TV shows and merch!
Quick recap
Justin and Clifford hosted their weekly Tolkien-focused show TORN Tuesday, discussing upcoming content and various Lord of the Rings-related projects including new films, board games, and animated adaptations. The hosts covered technical preparations for their broadcasts, shared updates on casting and production news for upcoming projects, and discussed the use of AI technology in de-aging actors and visual effects. The show concluded with personal updates from the hosts and a reminder for viewers to engage with the community, including a rewatch announcement for Rings of Power and discussions about potential anniversary screenings.
Summary
The Lord of the Rings new board game and Bakshi Blu-ray
Clifford and Justin discussed Ralph Bakshi’s animated Lord of the Rings film, which is being re-released on Blu-ray this week. Clifford ranked it as number 4 out of 10 Lord of the Rings movies, citing its impact as the first cinematic adaptation of the story. They also talked about the growing subreddit for the recent anime film, The War of the Rohirrim, which has reached 4,000 members six months after its release. Additionally, Justin announced a new board game called Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, designed by Matt Leacock.
Viggo Mortensen Wins a Writing award
After a lengthy discussion about a new board game called “Fate of the Fellowship,” which Clifford expressed excitement about and planned to purchase. They also talked about Viggo Mortensen’s recent success, including his directing debut and winning a Western screenplay award, which Justin suggested could lead to more involvement from Mortensen in future projects, particularly for Warner Brothers.
Justin and Clifford discussed the upcoming film “The Hunt for Gollum,” directed by Andy Serkis, which is set to be shot in New Zealand in early to mid-2024 and is expected to be a significant production. They debated whether the film would be as expensive as reported, considering its smaller narrative scope compared to previous large-scale productions like “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. Clifford suggested that the journalist’s description of it being one of the most expensive future films in New Zealand might be an exaggeration due to rising production costs. Additionally, they briefly discussed Andy Serkis’s upcoming projects, including “Animal Farm” and “Batman 2,” and Justin shared some personal news about a co-host leaving Torn Tuesday.
Clifford Denies Bilbo Role Rumors
Clifford Broadway, known for his role as a stage actor, humorously denied rumors that he would be taking over the role of Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming “Hunt for Gollum” movie, despite a playful costume test shared by Justin. Justin confirmed that the studio had approved the announcement, but Clifford insisted he was not involved in the production. The conversation included lighthearted banter about potential casting and a mock announcement of Clifford as a body double for Gollum, which he playfully embraced while denying any official involvement.
AI De-Aging in “Hunt for Gollum”
Clifford and Justin discussed the use of AI technology for de-aging actors in the potential “Hunt for Gollum” project, focusing on Orlando Bloom and Ian Holm. Clifford expressed approval for using AI for visual effects but opposed its use in creating new artwork, emphasizing the importance of respecting original artists’ work. They also considered recasting roles and the potential challenges of using AI for characters like Saruman, with Clifford suggesting that fans might have mixed reactions to fully CGI characters. The conversation highlighted the evolving technology and its implications for film production, with Justin noting Peter Jackson’s openness to using AI in his projects.
Prime Video’s “Rings of Power” Updates
Clifford and Justin discussed various updates and rumors about upcoming projects and casting. They shared news about Amazon’s secrecy regarding actor roles for their show, and Justin revealed that Jamie Campbell Bower, known as JCB, might be playing Bungo Baggins *sarcastically*. They also discussed the hiring of a new cinematographer, Gavin Finney, for “The Rings of Power” Season 3, highlighting his experience with video walls and natural lighting. Clifford shared excitement about Ryan Gosling’s upcoming role in a live-action adaptation of “Dragon’s Lair.” Lastly, Justin mentioned that Hugo Weaving, who worked on “The Matrix,” was brought to “The Lord of the Rings” project by Barry Osbourne.
Immersive 8K Movie Experience
Justin shared his experience of watching The Matrix at Cosm, a new dome-shaped cinema in Los Angeles that offers an immersive 8K movie experience with surround sound and interactive food service. The venue, which holds around 500 people, features a 360-degree screen that enhances the movie with additional CGI elements, and tickets cost $100 for the full experience including themed food and drinks. Justin highly recommended the unique cinematic experience, which is scheduled to run until August, and Clifford expressed interest in potentially seeing a Lord of the Rings film in the same format.
The hosts discussed the upcoming 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring and its potential screening in domes, expressing hope that Warner Bros would organize such an event at COSM. They announced a rewatch of Rings of Power, with the next episode scheduled for Sunday at noon Pacific time, and encouraged viewers to join the Discord community for discussions every Sunday at 3pm ET.
This article uses A.I. to recap the hour-long TORN Tuesday podcast, embedded above from YouTube.
Later today, the TORn Discord will be embarking on a complete live rewatch/watchparty (and discussion) of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — both Season 1 and, Season 2. All are welcome to join.
Starting with S1 E1: A Shadow of the Past at 3pm EST June 8, we will be group-watching one episode each week (with a double-header for each season finale) over the next 15 weeks. Participate in the text commentary on our server, then join us for a wrap-up voice discussion the following weekend. The full schedule is below.
If you’ve never used Discord before, it’s a very easy to use group-chat program that can be used on both PC, and phone. You can download the app and make an account here. It’s free. Then join TORn’s Discord server here. You can find the actual episode discussion thread here (or just ask one of our friendly moderators for help!).
Screenings, actors Q&A, costume displays, and a ring forge photo op aim to inspire Emmy voters to recognize Season 2 of the billion dollar TV series.
Hollywood, Ca – Prime Video has opened an invite-only The Rings of Power experience, just a few blocks from the world famous boulevard of stars. Select press outlets, influencers, and TV Academy voters were invited to get an up-close look at the craftsmanship put into the top-rated Prime Video series.
Season 2 of The Rings of Power focused on the dramatic working relationship between Sauron and Celebrimbor, so actors Charlie Vickers and Charles Edwards are currently on hand in Los Angeles to discuss their process. TORn’s Clifford Broadway snapped this photo from one of the many Q&As happening this week in LA.
Deadline has the exclusive interview with the actors — including Gandalf himself, Daniel Weyman — which you can read here.
There’s a walkthrough of The Rings of Power FYC (For Your Consideration) space thanks to Art of the Costume over on Instagram. Lots of costumes from all the different races on display! Attention to detail is unmatched, in an industry where entire casts of superheroes are often all CGI.
— Best of Charles Edwards (@cedwardsdaily) May 8, 2025
No word yet if Prime Video will open this space up to the general public (we think they should for a day!) but if you are accredited press, or a member of the voting academy for any TV awards, contact them at their awards website ConsiderAmazon.com.
Our first panel, ‘Celebrating Tolkien Reading Day’ will be on Friday, March 28 at 6:00 pm in Room 207. We will be reading some selections from various Tolkien books, and there may be a few little surprises along the way. This panel, in particular, will be very family-friendly, we may even call a few children to the front to join us in storytelling. Follow the link below to see details.
Our second panel, ‘Lord of the Rings: Previewing Upcoming Projects’ will take place on Saturday, March 29 at 2:00 pm in room 211. This panel will be where we discuss all the recent and soon-to-come Middle-earth-themed shows, films, books, games, and more. The link below shows more details.
