The highly anticipated television series bears the title The Rings of Power. 

Amazon Studios have unveiled the full title, and some details, of their upcoming Middle Earth show. Set thousands of years the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it’s officially titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Here’s the synopsis:

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.

Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.

Title reveal

As the show is a massive deal for them, Prime Video decided to do something special. They’ve physically forged the title in a blacksmith foundry, pouring molten metal into hand-carved wooden ravines to shape the letterforms. This, set to a performance of Tolkein’s “Ring Verse” certainly makes for an impressive title announcement.

In fact, they’re so proud there’s even a making of video for the title announcement video, courtesy of IGN.

All the major stories of Middle-earth’s Second Age

Speaking of the announcement, showrunners J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay said:

“This is a title that we imagine could live on the spine of a book next to J.R.R. Tolkien’s other classics. The Rings of Power unites all the major stories of Middle-earth’s Second Age: the forging of the rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, the epic tale of Númenor, and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.”

“Until now, audiences have only seen on-screen the story of the One Ring – but before there was one, there were many… and we’re excited to share the epic story of them all.”

Although there’s nothing specific in the latest announcement, the show is termed a “multi-season drama”. Way back in 2018, we reported about Amazon’s eye-watering financial commitment to the project; rumours suggest they spent $465 million on the first season alone!

We also covered details of the massive main cast which includes Joseph Mawle (Ripper Street), Maxim Baldry (Years and Years) and Lenny Henry.

The first season consists of eight episodes, with the first two directed by JA Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom). The remainder are helmed by Wayne Chi Yip (Doctor Who, Class) and Charlotte Brändström (The Witcher).

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power lands at Prime Video on Friday the 2nd of September, with episodes dropping weekly.

You can expect to hear plenty about it in the coming months! Naturally, we’ll keep you posted.