Amazon's debut teaser trailer for Game of Thrones, a great deal of money has been invested in The Rings of Power, and though the exact amount hasn't been officially divulged, suffice to say recreating Middle-earth does not come cheap.
Building toward The Rings of Power's September 2, 2022 premiere, details are finally pouring forth like orcs when someone disturbs Balin's tomb. Set across Tolkien's Second Age and based upon stories from the author's wider works (such as The Silmarillion), The Rings of Power's ensemble cast is led by Morfydd Clark's Galadriel and Robert Aramayo's Elrond. As the shadow of Sauron grows stronger, the Free Peoples of Middle-earth - Elves, Dwarves, Harfoots, and Men - stand on the precipice of a giant war between good and evil... again.
After a slew of images showcased the principle cast, first footage from Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has now been unveiled via a 60-second Super Bowl teaser trailer. The gargantuan scale and sky-high production values are immediately apparent, but which locations, story clues and characters are revealed or teased by Amazon's opening demonstration of The Rings of Power.
19. Lord Of The Rings' Númenor In Live-Action
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power teaser trailer opens on a sweeping landscape of an impressive citadel, towering mountain stood pride of place in the distance. This location is said to be Númenor - the isle of men set between Middle-earth and the Undying Lands, gifted to them by the Valar at the end of Tolkien's First Age. That would make the mountain in the background Meneltarma, while the statue could be Elros, Elrond's brother and the first king of Númenor.
18. Who Are The Lord Of The Rings "Winged" Nomad Hunters?
One of the stranger shots from Amazon's Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power teaser (and there are quite a few) shows two male characters stalking grassy highlands wearing huge antlers on their backs - almost as if someone forget to digitally replace on-set actors with CGI monsters. These characters are actually nomadic hunters carrying sharp spears, presumably to stab their prey once the fake wings lure some poor creature in. Or perhaps the bounty on their backs is proof the hunting has been completely successfully. The creature this mystery pair hunts isn't shown, but Tolkien's early Second Age contains all manner of messed-up chimeric creations left behind by Morgoth. These men may belong to the Lossoth - nomadic types hailing from colder climes (explaining the outfits), who also had dealings with Lindon.
17. Markella Kavenagh As A Harfoot
Though Hobbits have little say in Second Age matters, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power includes Harfoots - early Hobbits that haven't yet settled in and around The Shire. Markella Kavenagh plays one such Harfoot, glimpsed here in some rudimentary encampment. The Harfoots are described as secretive and isolated from other species, but Kavenagh's character promises, "There are wonders in this world beyond our wandering." Sounds like this youngster will break the laws of her people to seek a new, better home - perhaps even The Shire?
16. Morfydd Clark's Galadriel Climbs A Mountain
Official Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power images have already shown Morfydd Clark's Second Age Galadriel clad in armor, and the teaser footage continues to redefine her character. Most will know the gracious, graceful Lady of Lothlórien who wields powerful magic and has a scary secret face, but The Rings of Power's Galadriel is a hands-on warrior battling the remnants of Morgoth's followers using cold, hard steel. Aside from commanding an army, Galadriel will apparently climb a mountain on her journey, and with several other climbers scrambling below her, are these her fellow warriors? The twin stars upon her shoulders represent the Star of Fëanor.
15. Is Charlie Vickers' Halbrand From Númenor?
Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduces Charlie Vickers as Halbrand - a new human character in J.R.R. Tolkien's world. Halbrand is described as "running from his past" by official marketing, and this watery sequence takes place on the Sundering Seas. We can perhaps deduce, therefore, that Halbrand came from Númenor - the island of mortal men located between Middle-earth and Valinor. Halbrand must've either been exiled from his home, or ran away due to some dark misdeed. Though he's apparently not an expert at the rudder, his raft will encounter Galadriel in The Rings of Power.
14. Is Arondir The Rings Of Power's New Legolas?
Legolas developed a reputation for impressive archery tricks in The Lord of the Rings, but the Second Age comes a little too early for the Fellowship's golden-haired, Frodo-averse elf. The Rings of Power debuts Ismael Cruz-Córdova's Arondir - another new addition to Tolkien mythology. A Silvan elf (or wood-elf, heralded more for their combat abilities), Arondir clearly knows his way around a bow and arrow, catching a projectile midair before firing it back using his own bow. Arondir will be involved in a Romeo & Juliet-style forbidden romance angle with a human woman.
13. A Fire Across The Sky Hints Toward Bigger Mystery
Another inexplicable shot from Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power's teaser is this fireball streaking across the sky. Traveling too straight to be a catapult missile, but too low to be a harmless shooting star, magic must be afoot in this mysterious shot - perhaps a spell from a resurgent Sauron, an attack from Morgoth's remaining Balrogs, or the Elves firing against an unseen enemy. Later in the teaser, a man burns atop a swirling pyre while flames dance unnaturally around him, once again suggesting fire magic is rife in The Rings of Power.
12. Benjamin Walker As High King Gil-Galad?
Galadriel and Elrond will steal the headlines, of course, but the most important elf in The Rings of Power is High King of the Noldor, Gil-Galad, whose casting hasn't yet been announced officially. Gil-Galad was portrayed by Mark Ferguson in Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring flashbacks, but that role could now be occupied by Benjamin Walker, whose character is shown looking suspiciously regal in golden robes during The Rings of Power's teaser. Gil-Galad ruled over Lindon during the Second Age, suggesting that's where this watery, gold-leafed pond is located.
11. Galadriel Charges The Forces Of Morgoth
Taking Galadriel's character into territory Lord of the Rings fans will be largely unfamiliar with, Morfydd Clark is (briefly) shown riding her steed into battle, leading her fellow cavalry. Amazon's The Rings of Power teaser trailer neglects to show who Galadriel is charging towards but, most likely, she's waging a campaign against any lingering ers of Morgoth who are still alive in the Second Age, motivated by the loss of her brothers, who either died during the conflict, or were captured and tortured by Sauron.
10. Kip Chapman Takes On Middle-Earth's Trolls
This torch-waving cave explorer is easily mistaken for Robert Aramayo's Elrond, but despite the strange resemblance, is actually played by Kip Chapman. Without glimpsing his ears, it's hard to discern which race this figure belongs to, although the presence of chainmail and arrows suggests an elf of some variety. Perhaps hiding his ears avoids unwanted attention, since Chapman's character clearly likes venturing beyond the Elves' usual haunts. The monster he's (wisely) running from isn't alike anything seen in live-action Lord of the Rings before, but bears strong resemblance to Middle-earth's trolls - the gray-ish skin, lumbering size and cave habitat all consistent with early troll breeds.
