‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Cast: Meet the Characters From the New Amazon Series
J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythical world is returning with Amazon Prime Video’s forthcoming series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The show takes place thousands of years before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Hobbit, adding new layers to the English author’s famous novels.
The fantasy drama dives into the origins of fan favorites like Galadriel and Elrond. But it also introduces new characters and storylines created specifically for the series. Let’s break down The Rings of Power cast ahead of the show’s premiere on September 2, 2022.
Meet the cast of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
Morfydd Clark is Galadriel in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
Fans may remember Galadriel as the Elven princess and Lady of Lothlórien, portrayed by Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings film series. The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power stars Morfydd Clark as a young Galadriel.
Showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne told Vanity Fair that the series centers on the forging of the Rings of Power. They revealed that it begins with Galadriel hunting the Sauron allies that killed her brother. Meanwhile, she’s getting a strong sense that something terrible is looming.
Sophia Nomvete stars as Princess Disa
Sophia Nomvete is known for her critically acclaimed performances in the European premiere of The Color Purple. In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Nomvete portrays Princess Disa, a dwarven princess. The British performer is the first Black female actor to appear in the Lord of the Rings franchise.
When speaking to Vanity Fair about Nomvete’s character, Executive Producer Lindsey Weber said: “It felt only natural to us that an adaptation of Tolkien’s work would reflect what the world actually looks like. Tolkien is for everyone. His stories are about his fictional races doing their best work when they leave the isolation of their own cultures and come together.”
Robert Aramayo plays Elrond
The Lord of the Rings films feature Elrond (Hugo Weaving) as the wise Lord of Rivendell and father to Arwen (Liv Tyler). According to Vanity Fair, in the new series, Elrond is a “canny young elven architect and politician who is rising to “prominence in the mystical capital of Lindon.”
In The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, Robert Aramayo plays a young Elrond. Game of Thrones fans know the English actor for his role as the young Eddard Stark.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ stars Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV
The Rings of Power stars Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV, a Dwarven clan member on his way to becoming the next King. His people live in Khazad-dûm, the dark realm called the Mines of Moria in The Lord of the Rings films.
Arthur is a Welsh actor. He’s appeared in several British TV programs, including A Confession, Casualty, and Hard Sun.
Nazanin Boniadi portrays Bronwyn in the Amazon Prime Video series
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power stars Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn, a new character not found in Tolkien’s canon. According to Vanity Fair, Bronwyn is a single mother and healer from a small village in Middle-Earth’s Southland.
The Iranian-born British actor has appeared in several projects, including General Hospital, How I Met Your Mother, and Homeland.
Charlie Vickers plays Halbrand
Charlie Vickers portrays Halbrand, another new character in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. According to Vanity Fair, Halbrand meets Galadriel at sea in episode 2 as he runs from his past. The British actor is a relative newcomer who previously portrayed Guglielmo de’ Pazzi in Medici.
Ismael Cruz Córdova is Arondir in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
Ismael Cruz Córdova takes on the non-canonical role of Arondir, a Silvan Elf in a forbidden relationship with Bronwyn. Fans may remember the Puerto Rican actor from his gripping performances in Showtime’s Ray Donovan and HBO’s The Undoing. Córdova will be the first person of color to portray an Elf in any Tolkien project.
Benjamin Walker takes on the role of High King Gil-galad
Benjamin Walker is known for his roles in projects like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Marvel’s Jessica Jones. In the new Prime Video series, the American actor plays High King Gil-galad, the last ruler of the Elves of Middle-Earth and a founder of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. The character was portrayed by Mark Ferguson in the Lord of the Rings movies.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ stars Daniel Weyman as The Stranger
The Stranger is one of the most intriguing characters in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Showrunners aren’t revealing any details about this mysterious figure portrayed by English actor Daniel Weyman.
Maxim Baldry plays the doomed ‘Lord of the Rings’ King, Isildur
Maxim Baldry’s character in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a name fans may recognize. In the new series, the actor plays Isildur, the King of Men who defeats Sauron but keeps the Ring for himself. In the Jackson films, Isildur was portrayed by Harry Sinclair.
Charles Edwards is Celebrimbor
In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Charles Edwards takes on the role of the Elven-smith Celebrimbor. In Tolkien’s books, he was tricked by Sauron into forging the Rings of Power. Edwards has appeared in dozens of theater productions, films, and series including Downton Abbey and The Crown.
Markella Kavenagh plays Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot
Another new character in the Prime Video series is Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot, an ancestor to the race later known as Hobbits. Australian actor Markella Kavenagh steps into the role. She’s appeared in a few Australian TV series and films, but The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Lenny Henry is a Harfoot elder
British actor, TV host, and comedian Sir Lenworth George Henry, aka Lenny Henry, plays a Harfoot elder in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. As revealed in the showrunners’ interview with Vanity Fair, in the new series, Harfoots — another ancestral species of Hobbits — have created a secretive society that allows them to “play out a kind of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead story in the margins of the bigger quests.”
Megan Richards is also a Harfoot in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
Showrunners haven’t disclosed many details about Megan Richards’ character. They simply revealed that she and Kavenagh’s character are “two lovable, curious harfoots” who “encounter a mysterious lost man whose origin promises to be one of the show’s most enticing enigmas.”
The mystery man could very well be the Stranger. As teased by their description, it feels like Kavenagh and Richards’ may be the franchise’s new Pip and Merry.
How to watch Amazon Prime Video’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’
After Amazon premiered The Rings of Power‘s first trailer during Super Bowl LVI, Tolkien fans scrambled for more information. So far, we know the prequel series will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, September 2, 2022, with eight episodes total.
According to TV Guide, Amazon already renewed The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power for Season 2. We can assume this indicates that the production of this fantasy drama is going rather well.
