LOTR: Rings Of Power Season 2 Filming Report Confirms Lucky Break As Actors Strike Looms
Summary
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerstar Sam Hazeldine teases Adar’s journey in season 2 after the character’s recast. Hitting Prime Video in 2022, Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne’s fantasy series draws from J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsappendices to chronicle the rise of evil in Middle-earth during the Second Age.The Rings of Powerseason 2is now confirmed to release later this summer, with most of the cast returning. Joseph Mawle, however, will not reprise his role as Adar from season 1, with Hazeldine taking over the part.
In a recent interview withEW, Hazeldine teases his Adar’s journey inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2. According to the actor,the character will have a new mission in the show’s sophomore outing now that he’s found his Orc army a home. Viewers will also get to learn more about Adar’s origins, with the actor teasing: “It’s kind of like he took a red pill and was duped. He was horrifically tortured and maimed.” Check out Hazledine’s others comments and two new images of Adar in season 2 below:
“For me, the appeal was that he’s a dark character, but he doesn’t see himself as a villain. He’s just trying to protect his children, the Uruk. So he’s doing what he feels he has to do to save them from the genocide, whether that would be from Sauron, who sees them as cannon fodder, or from the elves.
“At the beginning of the season, Adar is kind of in an existential crisis because he doesn’t really know what to do next. Sure, they’re going to have to deal with various attacks, but he’s finished what he set out to do. He took on the responsibility of caring for these children of his and finding them a home, and now he’s done that. This sets up his call to adventure in season 2.”
Why Adar Was Recast In The Rings Of Power Season 2
What Joseph Mawle Has Said
Adar plays a crucial role as part of theRings of Powercastin season 1, and is arguably one of the show’s standout characters. Adar clashes with the show’s heroes throughout season 1’s eight episodes as he attempts to find his army a home. His attempts are ultimately successful when a volcanic eruption decimates the Southlands, and it’s also teased that Adar has a more prominent history with Sauron than previously thought. Despite the interesting setup for the character, Mawle elected not to return for season 2.
The actor hasn’t gone into much detail regarding his decision to leave. In December 2022, after news broke that Adar would be recast,Mawle took to Xto touch on his departure and express his well-wishes to the show moving forward. “I loved my time exploring middle earth and diving into Tolkien’s mythology,“he wrote, “I’m so honoured that the character was liked.” He continues: “Though as an actorit remains my wish, my job description to explore new characters and worlds. Wishing all the best to cast and crew for S2, I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines.”
It’s entirely possible that there is a deeper reason behindMawle’s departure fromThe Rings of Power, perhaps relating to the creative direction of the character. The actor’s comment suggests, however, thatthe reason could be as simple as Mawle not wanting to be tied down to one project that is expected to run for five seasons. In any case, it’s clear from Hazeldine’s comment that his version of Adar will still have a compelling story inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
