‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Casting Process

Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s great fantasy novels have been returning to Middle-earth for the past 70 years, first through the pages of his books and then on the big screen in Peter Jackson’s epic film adaptations.

With its prequel series, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” returning for a second season on August 29, Prime Video now has your ticket back. However, what would it take to get a part in the program?

Consider this comprehensive guide your road map to Middle-earth, including with important updates on “The Rings of Power” filming, casting process insights, and advice from the show’s stars regarding auditions.

In “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” what is the story about?

“The Rings of Power,” which is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s appendices to his “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Hobbit,” transports us to the Second Age of Middle-earth through a mix of well-known characters and new ones.

A younger version of the Elven queen Cate Blanchett portrayed in Jackson’s movies, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is the main character of the show. She gathers a band of warriors to battle against an evil that is building in the background thousands of years before Bilbo Baggins first leaves the Shire.

Spoiler alert: Galadriel quickly grows wary of her companion Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), who eventually reveals that he’s the Dark Lord Sauron, Middle-earth’s long-lost villain who’s on the path to forging the first Rings of Power.

Galadriel joins a young Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and a new band of Elves, Dwarves, and men. On Season 2, Galadriel must fight the Dark Lord’s attempt to subjugate the people of Middle-earth and prevent him from destroying their world forever.

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The cast of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” includes whom?

The cast of Season 1 included:

• Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark

• Being Bronwyn, Nazanin Boniadi

• Durin III as King Peter Mullan

• Gil-galad, High King Benjamin Walker

• Playing Sadoc Burrows, Lenny Henry

• Elrond/Robert Aramayo

• Queen Regent Míriel, played by Cynthia Addai-Robinson

• As Arondir, Ismael Cruz Córdova

• As Eärien, Ema Horvath

• Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot, played by Markella Kavenagh

• Durin IV, Prince Owain Arthur

• Baldry, Maxim as Isildur

• Sophia Nomvete in the role of Disa

• Pharazôn, played by Trystan Gravelle

• Emmanuel Bor as Charles Edwards

• Halbrand, played by Charlie Vickers

• Elendil, played by Lloyd Owen

• Marigold Brandyfoot, played by Sara Zwangobani

• Malva played by Thusitha Jayasundera

• Poppy Proudfellow, played by Megan Richards

• As the Stranger, Daniel Weyman

• Largo Brandyfoot, played by Dylan Smith

• As Valandil, Alex Tarrant

• As Theo, Tyroe Muhafidin

• Waldreg, played by Geoff Morrell

• Vilma, played by Maxine Cunliffe

Ciarán Hinds, Rory Kinnear, Tanya Moodie, Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen “Zates” Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Sam Hazeldine, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Calam Lynch, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo, and Gavi Singh Chera are among the many new cast members that Amazon revealed will be joining the Season 2 ensemble.

For “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” who are the casting directors?

It’s not simple to assemble an ensemble cast, but the CDs behind “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” are skilled at it.

Theo Park (“Ted Lasso” on Apple TV+), Kirsty McGregor, and Stu Turner (who both worked on the casting crew for “The Wilds,” another ensemble series on Prime Video) are in the prequel series.

This pair is well-versed in casting, having assembled dozens of projects together. They also want performers to know what goes through their heads and behind the scenes.

For example, Park informed us that she doesn’t give a damn about an actor’s school history unless asked to, as long as they have the skills necessary to embody a certain role.

For the sake of the material itself, there are undoubtedly some projects where the creatives are drawn to those with classical expertise.

I might go looking for those actors [actors who have attended drama school]. But in general, it doesn’t worry me if you’ve had any training. It concerns if you’re appropriate for the role, she clarified.

Park also requests patience from the actors. She is aware that waiting for a response can be anxious, but it’s likely that she is also anticipating one. It’s likely that the actors are unaware of how much silence we also get.

We sometimes follow up relentlessly with the producers to obtain their input, but they are often too busy to view the tapes at this point, the source stated.

It’s likely that actors are unaware of how difficult it can be to obtain some answers, despite our best efforts. It’s imperative that we receive their input from them as soon as feasible.

What is the procedure for casting “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”?

Since he’s “known” for his “wild” style, Córdova (Arondir) is no stranger to taking chances. In fact, he previously told us that he gave it his all during his audition for “The Rings of Power.”

And it was fruitful! “I have composed many letters of interest, if you would, which are essentially five-, six-, or seven-page opinion pieces arguing for my qualifications and my fit with the role.

I’ve attended an audition dressed as a character,” he declared. “I nearly made the trip to the director’s office for [‘The Rings of Power.'”

I pestered my managers nonstop, asking, “Where is he?” What region of the globe is he in? I completed a meeting’s worth of hair, makeup, and costumes. I now know that it was precisely what they didn’t want. However, it’s certain that Córdova left a lasting impact, which led to his eventual casting.

When she went for her audition as Galadriel, Clark was not informed. Even while I was attending drama school, I can assure you that discussion of a “Lord of the Rings” television series had been around for a while.

Years later, I received an audition. Everything was rather ambiguous. All the information we were given was that they were looking for actors with experience speaking Shakespearean language, the actress stated to AnOther Magazine.

“I was in the waiting area when someone seated next to me asked what this was for. When I replied that I didn’t know, she informed me that it was for ‘The Lord of the Rings.'”

I needed to talk to myself, so I had to use the restroom. It’s okay, I said; you’ve spent your entire life getting ready for this. I stepped in, tried it, and after a long audition process, I was finally in New Zealand.

What time does “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 3 filming begin?

Although “The Rings of Power” hasn’t received the official green light for a third season yet, Variety claims that work on the upcoming episode has been underway since February 2024. Showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne are now working diligently on the Season 3 tales.

After all, as Deadline reported, Amazon Studios committed to a multi-season run of “The Lord of the Rings” and any potential spinoffs that came along with acquiring the global TV rights. Return here for updates regarding the future of the show.

Where are casting calls and auditions for “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” held?

While the show waits for its Season 3 renewal, there aren’t any open casting calls or auditions available right now.

What are the best ways to get a job on “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” through auditions?

The cast has been on screen before, even though this may be their first trip inside Middle-earth. The stars of “Rings of Power” have the following advise for prospective candidates:

• Develop your craft: Because of his never-ending thirst for knowledge, Benjamin Walker (High King Gil-galad) has accomplished everything, both on stage and screen. “Study,” he instructed. “By studying, I mean to really pay attention to what your teachers are saying—try your hardest.” Find out everything you can. It’s not necessary to agree with everything. All of it need not be to your taste. But you must give it your best. What they can’t teach you in school, in my opinion, is that it also takes time. Our culture has a strong emphasis on “American Idols,” but that hasn’t been my experience, so I would advise others not to aim for it. You should pursue this craft for the rest of your life. Certain things appear to have happened quickly, although they haven’t. Who can recall the third runner-up from “American Idol’s” third season? In any case, you wouldn’t want it. Who knows? Perhaps they are exceptionally intelligent. Perhaps Kelly Clarkson, you asshole, is to blame.

• Make yourself some room: Although auditions are a necessary step in the process, Clark stated that she makes an effort not to become fixated on the result. She told us, “I try not to let the audition live in my mind rent-free for too long.” “When I obsess over something, I begin to picture what it would be like to work there—where they film, for example. And that’s not very helpful, in my opinion. I so make an effort to ignore all of the practical issues because doing so would make things out of control. Instead, concentrate just on the text itself—the audition. Additionally, I aim to dedicate no more than two hours to preparation prior to an audition, as there’s a delicate equilibrium between exerting sufficient effort and maintaining the flexibility to disregard it. Since you don’t get 95% of auditions, it’s helpful to see them as one-time events. I believe that kind of compartmentalization has kept me sane. I give it a fair bit of time, but I don’t let it rule my life.
  

• Embrace the moment: You need to be fully present and involved in the audition process. According to Cynthia Addai-Robinson, the Queen Regent Míriel, you have to give it your all; anything less than 100 percent won’t cut it. It’s a brief performance, she explained to us. “You truly have to give it your all at that precise moment. You cannot approach it halfheartedly. You must truly dedicate yourself to giving it everything you have, and let that suffice. Of course you want the work, but what matters is sincerity and a true focus, not just landing a job.
  

• Acknowledge your power: According to Córdova, the key to success is realizing that you have more control than you may realize over the circumstances. “You must take a chance,” he said. “Believing that we have no control over this process and that we should be helpless is a mistake we make. You begin to realize that you are a piece of the puzzle that [casting directors] are trying to put together. You gain authority. That is what they desire. You have undoubtedly heard a lot of casting directors state, “We want them to be good; we want the role.” Naturally, I won’t do it on the set, but if it will help me draw you in, I’ll do it. I will actively push for a post if I believe in it, till the very end, using every legal means at my disposal.