Amazon Says Huge Rings of Power Bet Has ‘More Than Paid Off,’ Teases Bigger Battles for Season 2

Amazon’s episodic Lord of the Rings series is a pricy endeavor, but it sounds like the risk was worth the reward. In a new interview, the studio painted its picture of success and teased a flashier future for The Rings of Power’s second season.

Speaking to Deadline, head of global TV for Amazon Studios Vernon Sanders said the company’s gamble on its Lord of the Rings series “has more than paid off.” The stakes were some of the most expensive television has ever seen, with its first season budget set at a pricy $465 million. 

In 2021, Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke said the Rings of Power would need “a giant, global audience” to justify its price tag — a bar it seems the studio has met and surpassed in more ways than one.

In Sanders’ interview, he explains how the series broke Prime Video records, attracting a younger audience in the 18-34 demographic and reaching more than 100 million viewers. It also boosted Tolkien’s original work, making it a “company-wide success” as several of his titles wound up in Amazon’s most sold books throughout the year.

Rings of Power Season 2 will ramp up the spectacle

As the Rings of Power looks to a future with the iconic series big bad, Sauron, the show will ramp up its spectacle. Sanders noted the studio had learned a lot from its first season with Lord of the Rings, and production on Season 2 reflects that through “bigger battles” adapted from the books.

“We are going to be faster,” Sanders told Deadline. “We are going to be able to put more money on screen, just in terms of the scale and scope of what we’re doing now that we know how to do it.”

For those not yet caught up on the Prime Video series, perhaps it’s one worth getting on the radar. In a review of The Rings of Power premiere, IGN said, “it may take it a little while to hit its stride, but once it does, it immerses us in a gorgeous fantasy world with a great ensemble and several intriguing subplots.”

Andrea Shearon is a freelance contributor for IGN covering games and entertainment. She’s worn several hats over her seven-year career in the games industry, with bylines over at Fanbyte, USA Today’s FTW, TheGamer, VG247, and RPG Site. Find her on Twitter (@Maajora) or the Materia Possessions podcast chatting about FFXIV, RPGs, and any series involving giant robots.