Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerhas a chance to make good on some of the unkept promises of previousLord of the Ringsadaptations. The live-action TV show has received a generally favorable critical reception, despite igniting numerous fan controversies with its dubiously faithful depictions of the world created by legendary British author J. R. R. Tolkien. Going into its third season, it stands to adapt an unprecedented part ofLord of the Ringsthat all other movies backed out of in the past.
The possibility of thisLord of the Ringson-screen first inThe Rings of Powerseason 3 is exciting as it could be one of the show’s most unique and faithful elements yet, or it could create more controversy in the notoriously pickyfandom.Season 3 is set to dive into Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) distribution of his Rings of Menand his subsequent forging ofLord of the Rings’One Ring. The show will be racing the clock to then fit in its Númenor arc before its five-season finish. However, there may yet be time to include the fan-favorite Glorfindel.
Two Different The Lord Of The Rings Adaptations Cut Glorfindel
No English-Language Adaptation Has Included Glorfindel
There is a real chance thatRings of Powerseason 3will finally bring Glorfindel to life, unlike most previous movies and TV shows. No English-language production has really adapted Glorfindel for the screen yet, with the main omissions being from the Ralph Bakshi movie and Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Glorfindel has a big role in part one of theLord of the Ringsnovel,The Fellowship of the Ring, which both movies adapted. However, Elf extra Jarl Benzon is credited with Glorfindel’s role in an official trading card game.
All 4 Live-Action Sauron Actors In The Lord Of The Rings & Rings Of Power
The Lord of the Rings movies popularized Sauron as a giant, flaming eye, but four actors have played Sauron in live-action over the years.
Benzon is listed as “Coronation Elf” in the cast of theLord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingmovie. However, game company Decipher worked with Wētā Workshop’s Daniel Falconer in the 2000s to cast and costume characters for the game, including Glorfindel. Falconer was a senior designer for the Peter Jackson movies across props, costumes, and effects. Meanwhile, Sweden’s 1971Sagan om Ringenbriefly features a Glorfindelthat is actually fairly visually convincing. Now,Rings of Powermay bring this character to the U.S. and U.K.
How Glorfindel Could Feature In The Rings Of Power Season 3
Glorfindel Was Bizarrely Present Through The Ages
TheLord of the Ringstimelineroughly places Glorfindel in Middle-earth at the time of the events ofRings of Powerseason 3.Many readers will know Glorfindel as the Third Age Elf who helps Frodoat the Ford of Bruinen inFellowship of the Ring. Of course, Jackson gave this role to Arwen for his movie. However, less casual fans will know that Glorfindel also fought in Morgoth’s Sack of Gondolin in the First Age, as described inThe SilmarillionandThe Fall of Gondolin. Unfortunately, Glorfindel emerged from the Fall of Gondolin dead and buried.
Before time
33,537
10,061
Elves awoke in Cuiviénen
4,902
War of Wrath ended
3,441
3,021
Fo.A 1 - unknown
Unknown
Fans must look to apocryphal Tolkien material found inThe Peoples of Middle-earthto explain this conundrum. Although never published while Tolkien was alive, drafts contained in this collection and otherThe History of Middle-earthbooks show Tolkien’s evolving story. It turns outGlorfindel was revived early for his great deeds—Lord of the Rings’Elvescould normally be reembodied if they died an early death. Fascinatingly, Glorfindel was sent to Middle-earth in the Second Age by the Valar, allowing for aRings of Powercameo in season 3.
Why Glorfindel Is Alive In Middle-Earth’s Second Age, Despite Dying Way Earlier
Glorfindel Is One Of Very Few Elves To Be Reincarnated Early
Tolkien was famously indecisive onElvish immortality inLord of the Rings, but the most substantial of his writings agree thatGlorfindel, Finrod, and Lúthien were all reincarnated after bodily death abnormally quickly.Elves' spirits would normally spend much longer in the Halls of Mandos before they were considered for reembodiment. That is why the deaths of great Elves like Fingolfin and Finwë are so tragic and final inThe Silmarillion. Finrod stayed in Aman (the continent west of Middle-earth) after his reincarnation and Lúthien returned as a mortal, making Glorfindel entirely unique.
Sauron began construction on Barad-dûr
1000
Sauron befriended the Elves of Eregion as Annatar
1200
Rings of Power were forged
1500
The three great Elven-rings were forged
1590
The One Ring was forged, Barad-dûr was completed, Sauron openly proclaimed himself
1600
Sauron began to prepare to invade Eriador
1605
The War of the Elves and Sauron began
1693
Sauron invaded Eriador
1695
Sauron sacked Eregion and killed Celebrimbor. Rivendell was founded. The Dwarves assailed Sauron. Khazad-dûm closed.
1697
1699
Númenóreans defeated Sauron
1700
Sauron was driven from Eriador and fled to Mordor. First White Council held
1701
Ar-Pharazôn seized the scepter
3255
Sauron became Pharazôn’s prisoner in Númenor
3262
Númenor fell
3319
Glorfindel was sent to Middle-earth between S.A. 1200 and 1600 byLord of the Rings’Vala Manwëto help Elrond and Gil-galad oppose Sauron during his rise to power. Annatar got to Eregion in 1200 and forged the One Ring in 1600, soRings of Powerseason 3 is fully primed for Glorfindel to arrive and save the day. Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) will soon need assistance when Sauron’s War Against the Elves has only just begun. It isn’t clear how much of this war, often described inUnfinished Tales, the show will adapt, but Glorfindel could appear regardless.
Finrod was Galadriel’s brother, while Galadriel was described as the greatest of the Noldor by Tolkien.
Rings of Powerhas the rights toLord of the RingsandThe Hobbitbut has been acquiring one-off rights to other texts as needed, includingUnfinished Tales. OnlyThe Peoples of Middle-earthdescribes Glorfindel’s story inLord of the Rings’Second Age, but even if the show struggles to get rights to this content, Glorfindel appears more than enough inLord of the Ringsto allow for some original Second Age material. If perfectly cast, Glorfindel could be the jewel in the crown ofThe Lord of the Rings: the Rings of Power.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
