The Rings of Power Season 3: Exclusive SDCC interviews breakdown

The highly anticipated San Diego Comic-Con offered a major spotlight on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3. Following the dramatic events of Eregion, the series is now poised to explore the darkness of the “Dark Years” and Sauron’s growing pressure over the Elven kingdoms. Alongside the teaser, which provided audiences with a first glimpse of this new chapter of the show, the event also featured a wealth of interviews with the cast and showrunners. These conversations revealed a significant amount of compelling new information about the season’s narrative direction and the characters set to shape the story ahead.

Naturally, Fellowship of Fans was present at the event. Represented by our founder, Harry, we had the opportunity to interview some of the production’s key figures, including showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. In this article, we will highlight and analyze the most significant takeaways from these exclusive interviews, providing a clearer picture of what to expect from Season 3.

Inside Season 3: J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay on the Show’s Themes, Style, and Legacy

The showrunners delved deeply into what will serve as the core thematic pillars for the upcoming season—themes that strike a profoundly Tolkienian chord. Chief among them is, inevitably, the concept of hope: a light that shines brightest even in the darkest hours and when all appears lost, a philosophical thread that connects all the Ages of Arda.

This new chapter of the series will be set amidst the “Dark Years,” the grimmest era of the Second Age, as Sauron’s oppressive grip on the Elven realms grows increasingly suffocating. J.D. Payne shared how Gil-galad comes perilously close to losing hope this season, particularly after witnessing fields strewn with the bodies of fallen Elves following a grueling battle against the Dark Lord’s forces. It is in this precise moment of despair that Círdan, drawing upon his boundless wisdom, steps forward to offer the words needed to anchor him.

Patrick McKay added that every character will be forced to search for hope across a devastated Middle-earth now dominated by Sauron’s ascending power—and to reckon with the heavy weight of that ongoing dilemma.

The showrunners also expanded on the visual direction of the upcoming season, promising an experience that is even more spectacular and cinematic in scale. “We want every shot to be something you could put on a poster on your wall” perfectly captures the creative philosophy of a team that has spent thousands of hours meticulously crafting a season of magnificent visual weight and obsessive attention to detail. J.D. Payne explained the core creative process that spans all production departments, rooted in historical research and the raw emotions they aim to evoke in the viewer. The design for Barad-dûr, for instance, drew inspiration from ancient megaliths, as the team sought to give the fortress a truly primordial appearance.

Additionally, the writers offered interesting comments on Princess Disa—a character who has firmly captured the hearts of fans—and Eärien, who this season will find herself deeply torn between political duty and family loyalty. Unsurprisingly, some of the most notable comments were reserved for the central figure of the season: Sauron himself. As the creators noted, “It’s a psychological journey of a villain coming into his own, which is disturbing and scary.”

Payne and McKay concluded with poignant reflections on the journey so far, expressing profound gratitude for being a part of such a monumental legacy:

“It actually got me a little emotional to think that, okay, there’s a time where this journey will come to an end, and this show will be part of the history of Middle-earth. And for better or for worse, people will love some things, people won’t love other things, but that very idea is incredibly emotional to think about, that we have that enormous blessing to be able to be part of that huge legacy that is far, much greater than us.”

Charlie Vickers, Ismael Cruz Córdova, and Jamie Campbell Bower on Character Arcs in Season 3

In addition to the showrunners, Harry had the opportunity to sit down with several members of the cast—including Charlie Vickers (Sauron), Jamie Campbell Bower (Celeborn), and Ismael Cruz Córdova (Arondir)—gleaning highly compelling insights into their characters’ evolutions.

Vickers described a Sauron in a state of “decay”, consumed by his obsession with crafting the One Ring to bend the world to his will, and drawing steadily closer to his original form. In his own mind, the Dark Lord remains convinced that he is Middle-earth’s sole salvation, driven to forge a better world through absolute dominance. Vickers noted that throughout the season, Sauron will cross paths with various characters, manipulating each to further his ends. However, unlike previous seasons—where his journey was heavily tied to Galadriel and Celebrimbor—he will find himself largely isolated, entirely singularly focused on his ultimate objective.

Jamie Campbell Bower shared that while he did not collaborate with composer Bear McCreary on the Season 3 soundtrack, he recounted a delightful chance encounter with him at an airport, which sparked a passionate conversation about music. The actor, widely recognized for his portrayal of Vecna in Stranger Things, went on to emphasize the crucial role music plays in shaping the show’s identity.

Equally fascinating were the revelations from Ismael Cruz Córdova, who detailed the physical training and stunt work required for this new chapter.

“I think, I mean I was always very focused on understanding the origin of why this elf would move the way that he moves, you know? And for me it was always a matter of how observant he is of nature. So all the movements come from those spirals, because I’m thinking, they live thousands of years, so they see actually how nature ups and downs, and a lot of the growth of trees and flowers and all these things, they have these beautiful spiral works.”

It is a wonderful concept that resonates deeply with Tolkien’s lore, as the bond between the Elves and the natural world is famously profound and unbreakable. The Puerto Rican actor added that for Season 3, he shifted his focus toward hand-to-hand combat rather than purely acrobatic maneuvers, all while preserving the poetic, melancholic, and ethereal presence that fans worldwide have come to love.

Kings, Queens and Wizards: Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson and Owain Arthur Discuss Season 3

Among the cast members interviewed at Comic-Con were Benjamin Walker (Gil-galad), Daniel Weyman (Gandalf), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Míriel), and Owain Arthur (Durin IV), all of whom offered compelling insights into their characters’ trajectories for the upcoming season.

Addressing the plight of the Faithful, Cynthia Addai-Robinson reflected on how her character will feel the weight of the world on her shoulders, describing the season as “transformative” and fraught with heavy responsibility. She noted that Míriel is striving to lead a revolution—a mission that keeps her deeply tethered to Elendil despite their physical separation last season. Particularly poignant were her comments on the bond between the two characters, which she defined as rooted in a sense of “shared faith and trauma”.

The focus then shifted to Daniel Weyman, now officially recognized as Gandalf rather than “The Stranger”:

“I think moving from the Stranger who was quite needy, you know, never really knew what his job was and how to go about achieving anything… Gandalf has his feet really planted on the floor.”

Weyman described a character now fully aware of his identity and capabilities, marked by a characteristic twinkle in his eyes and a touch of genuine mischief.

Owain Arthur centered his comments on the profound influence Peter Mullan (who played Durin III) had on his journey throughout the show:

“Peter taught me… he’s got an amazing talent of being able to tell a story to the very last minute before you go for a take! So, the cameras would be turning over, sound would be up to speed, and he’d still be telling me a story about something… And that’s another thing…’ And then I’m trying to act like this, and then all of a sudden they shout ‘Action!’ and Peter, boom! He’s there, holding his ring! I’m like ‘What?! How did you do that?!’ So he’s got an incredible talent on that, but storytelling… Peter is a wonderful, wonderful human being.”

The interview concluded on a lighthearted note, filled with cheerful banter about props that brought the conversation to a delightful close.

Season 3 of The Rings of Power arrives on Prime Video on November 11, and we cannot wait to experience this next chapter of the show.