Fresh out of filming, actors Owain Arthur and Max Baldry give us the first revelations about what will happen next in Middle-earth…
A little less than a year after the broadcast of season 1, the production of rings of power has just wrapped the shooting of season 2. But a little surprise this year: for the first time, The Lord of the Rings was not filmed in New Zealand. The production took place essentially across the Channel.
Invited to the 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival, Owain Arthur confirms us “We just finished filming recently! We haven’t gone back to filming in New Zealand. Not at all. We filmed everything in the UK this time. I can’t tell you why exactly, but I think it’s It was a logistical story…” advances the one who embodies Durin IV in the Prime Video series.
His playmate, Max Baldryalias Isildur, tells our microphone: “It was different, but at the same time, England is Tolkien’s home. He drew a lot of inspiration from the English countryside, so those settings really resonated with our approach this year.“
The British actor reveals in stride that this season 2 of Rings of Power will be very different from the first in terms of tone: “The story evolves. Season 2 is much darker. Season 1 was about heroes, but in season 2, we really get into the hard part, into the heart of the matter. And there’s more action too!“
Owain Arthur insists and advances that “evil has now descended upon this land“, he says, in reference to Sauron’s return to Middle-earth at the end of season 1. In this chaotic atmosphere, the son of Elendil, now left to his own devices, will have to fight to survive. “For me, it was a very taxing season to film physically, because my character finds himself in an adventure in survival mode”, insists Max Baldy. “All the Numenorians left Middle-earth at the end of season 1 and Isildur gets trapped, in a way. He is stuck. If season 1 showed an Isildur eager to discover the world, in season 2 he realizes all he has lost and all he misses.“
For Durin IV, the fallen prince of Moria, the weather will not be festive either. After being reprimanded by his father the King, he finds himself in a most delicate position: “Durin will be a bit different in Season 2, after what happened to him at the end of Season 1, because he lost everything. So we’re going to find him at a completely different point in his life. It’s hard for him and he will be forced to ask himself questions about himself, to question his choices.
Especially on his friendship with the Elf Elrond. Separated, their duo from season 1 will no longer be… at least at the start of season 2: “Durin made a lot of sacrifices for Elrond in season 1. They are best friends and Durin would do anything for him (…) Durin and Elrond will always have this connection but they will no longer be together, necessarily, at the beginning of the new episodes, since he was banished from the Kingdom of the Dwarves. But maybe they will meet again at some point…“
This season 2 of Rings of Power will soon be available on Prime Video. No date yet.
