Hold onto your rings, Lord of the Rings fans. Because Amazon’s new The Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power, just released a slew of first-look character posters. These new images from The Lord of the Rings show may be enough to keep you fed through first and second breakfast, possibly even elevenses. Although the new posters didn’t initially reveal a look at any of the characters’ faces, or even assign them names, we now know who is who, and more besides. Only one character remains unknown… Let’s take a look at these 23 images and which new Lord of the Rings characters they represent.

The Lord of the Rings the Rings of Power character posters and faces
Prime Video

If you want to skip right to a specific character from Rings of Power, you can do so here: King Elendil // Pharazôn // Isildur // Elrond // High King Gil-galad // Prince Durin IV // Queen Regent Míriel // The Stranger // Poppy Proudfellow // Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot // Largo Brandyfoot // Halbrand // Theo // Arondir // Bronwyn // Galadriel // Kemen // Eärien // Marigold Brandyfoot // Sadoc Burrows // Celebrimbor // Princess Disa

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power New Character Poster: Sauron

Amazon

First up, our only mystery character remaining. Prime Video has revealed all the other Rings of Power characters except this one. We might hazard to name him the Dark Lord himself, Sauron. I mean, we don’t want to judge or anything, but there’s just something about the all-black armor and the spikey sword that hints at evil.  The Lord of the Rings show takes place during the Second Age. This means it promises us we’ll see Sauron forge his great Ring of Power. The hand in the image doesn’t appear to don a ring… yet. But we know what is to come in Middle-earth. It is possible this isn’t Sauron, but his master, Morgoth, but only time will tell.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power New Character Posters: Ring Wearers

Something that caught our eye about these new Lord of the Rings series posters is that some of the characters are wearing, you guessed it… Rings. These may or may not be the actual rings of power, although there are 2o of those to go around. But, in a show that centers rings, it definitely seems curious for some characters to be wearing the titular jewelry while others don’t. But who are these ring-clad characters from Rings of Power?

Elendil
Amazon

Our first “ring-bearer” holds a majestic sword. If we had to speculate, we would say this may be the King of Numenor, a kingdom of men from the Second Age.

Prime Video

But we don’t have to speculate much longer because, according to a recent article by Vanity Fair, we’re looking at King Elendil’s legendary sword Narsil in this image. King Elendil certainly looks like he means business.

Pharazôn
Amazon

The next ring-wearer is richly dressed, their belt forged by an expert hand. This figure is Pharazôn. He is a character close to Númenor’s Queen, Queen Regent Míriel. Pharazôn is played by Trystan Gravelle. According to Gravelle, “He’s an advisor, a chancellor, and very much a public servant, and it’s not a job or a task that he is reluctant to do. He has a very, very deep love for his island and for his kingdom.” Pharazôn is cousin to the Queen and, for now, seeks to act as an advisor to her. Gravelle notes, Pharazôn “has the ear of all the people of Númenor, and so is the man to bring the island together to listen to Queen Míriel.”

Prime Video

But, spoilers, in Tolkien’s texts, Pharazôn eventually tries to usurp the throne from its rightful ruler. Only time will tell, however, if he is truly friend or foe in this rendition of the story.

Isildur
Amazon

Rope is an unusual accouterment. But whoever holds it wears a ring. Could it be elven-made? Or simply a mark of a hardworking human. We now know this to be Isildur, who works as a sailor during Rings of Power. Isildur will grow to one day cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand. But at the most important moment, he will fail to destroy the source of evil, bowing to his inner evil.

Prime Video

In Rings of Power, Maxim Bradley plays Isildur. Bradley notes of his character:

“You see Isildur as a young man at a crossroads, wanting to pursue his father’s shoes and become a ship’s captain, but there’s also something that’s pulling him away from that and pulling him into this romantic view of life outside of the city… There’s something new out there. There’s an emptiness in him, and he’s grieving his mother. He wants to find himself, and it’s a beautiful story of a young man trying to find his way in life. He makes mistakes along the way. He’s not a well-rounded character yet, but there’s a lot of love in him for his sister and his family.”

Elrond
Amazon

This ring-bearer holds a staff that encapsulates a whole city. But which city and why we don’t yet know. What we do know is that the hand of Elrond holds this scepter. In The Rings of Power, we meet a younger Elrond than we have in previous.

Robert Aramayo plays Elrond, the elven statesman who is just beginning to build his reputation—starting with mending the relationship between his people and the dwarves of Khazad-dûm.

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— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 10, 2022

Not yet a sagacious lord, but a “canny young elven architect and politician…who will rise to prominence in the mystical capital of Lindon.” Elrond will be played by Robert Aramayo.

High King Gil-galad
Amazon

The hands in this poster wear many rings. And we now know exactly who they belong to. This golden-clad character is High King Gil-galad, the last High King of the Ñoldor in Middle-earth. Gil-galad senses there is still evil lurking in the air, although many would like to believe otherwise. In Rings of Power, he will have a close friendship with Elrond.

Prime Video

He is also known as the High King of the Elves of the West. Gil-galad will be played by Benjamin Walker.

Prince Durin I
Amazon

A few flecks of gold, a few rings, and a massive weapon. We’d say this character represents the dwarves in our new Lord of the Rings show. We now know that is Prince Durin IV, the prince of Khazad-dûm.

Prince Durin IV is played by Owain Arthur.

Queen Regent Míriel
Amazon

This shining, graceful lady is Queen Regent Míriel. When we meet Queen Regent Míriel, the character is tasked with ruling Númenor. As noted by EW, she has a strong love for her country and wants to maintain stability and peace for her people.

Prime Video

But by the same token, she feels incredibly isolated, and there is tension around her and inside of her. Cynthia Addai-Robinson is played by Queen Regent Míriel.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power New Character Posters: Fruit Bearers

While some of the characters don rings, others hold symbols of nature. We hope to see more elves in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but wizards and hobbits also have strong connections to the natural world. Let’s take a look at these fruits and the hands that hold them

If you want to skip right to a specific character from Rings of Power, you can do so here: King Elendil // Pharazôn // Isildur // Elrond // High King Gil-galad // Prince Durin IV // Queen Regent Míriel // The Stranger // Poppy Proudfellow // Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot // Largo Brandyfoot // Halbrand // Theo // Arondir // Bronwyn // Galadriel // Kemen // Eärien // Marigold Brandyfoot // Sadoc Burrows // Celebrimbor // Princess Disa

The Stranger
Amazon

An apple cradled close? For some reason, this seems like a wizard to us. Perhaps Radagast the Brown will make his return to the Lord of the Rings world in this series. He certainly is the kind to hold nature gently in his hands. Although he did not arrive in Middle-earth until the Third Age, we don’t count him out.

Prime Video

The person in this poster has only a mysterious name, after all, “The Stranger.” Daniel Weyman will play this still obscured role.

Poppy Proudfellow
Amazon

Acorns and dirty hands put us in mind of a hobbit. Although unlikely to star in this series, we will surely see some of these gentle people, or at least their early relatives, the Harfoots.

Prime Video

This Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power character is named Poppy Proudfellow. She’ll be played by Megan Richards.

Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot
Amazon

Berries too, ring of Hobbits and Harfoots too. And this lady is confirmed to be Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot, played by Markella Kavenagh.

Prime Video

We’ll be excited to see what adventures await Frodo’s ancestors in this new show.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power New Character Posters: Weapon Wielders

Middle-earth is not always a peaceable place. And many of our new characters hold weapons in their hands. We don’t know who many of these Lord of the Rings characters are exactly. But their weapons give us some clues.

If you want to skip right to a specific character from Rings of Power, you can do so here: King Elendil // Pharazôn // Isildur // Elrond // High King Gil-galad // Prince Durin IV // Queen Regent Míriel // The Stranger // Poppy Proudfellow // Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot // Largo Brandyfoot // Halbrand // Theo // Arondir // Bronwyn // Galadriel // Kemen // Eärien // Marigold Brandyfoot // Sadoc Burrows // Celebrimbor // Princess Disa

Largo Brandyfoot
Amazon

A staff like this brings wizards to mind. But it seems like this The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power character is actually a Harfoot by the name of Largo Brandyfoot.

Prime Video

Not much is known about him but we assume he is related to Marigold Brandyfoot and Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot. Dylan Smith will play Largo Brandyfoot.

Halbrand
Amazon

Horses signal one thing prominently and that’s Rohan. The famous riders were around during the Second Age. Could this be one of their numbers? We now know this poster reveals Charlie Vickers as Halbrand. But all we know so far about the original character of Halbrand is that he is “running from his past.”

Prime Video

Perhaps his sword remains a key clue to his identity.

Theo
Amazon

We know now that the character in this poster is named Theo. Tyroe Muhafidin plays Theo in Rings of Power.

Ben Rothstein/Prime Video

Amazon also released a fuller look at the character, revealing him to be on the younger side.

Arondir
Amazon

Arrows are the chosen weapons of the elves. And the leafy design on this character’s armor fits that theory. We also notice the armor is made out of wood. A Silvan elf, we declare, and not just anyone. This silvan elf is named Arondir. In Rings of Power, Arondir is a silvan elf who has fallen in love with a human healer, Bronwyn. This love is forbidden.

#TheRingsOfPower, set within Tolkien’s Second Age, will juggle 22 stars and multiple storylines—from deep within the dwarf mines to the elven kingdom of Lindon. Here, the adventures of the fellowship are still some 2,000 years in the future.

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— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 10, 2022

Ismael Cruz Córdova plays Arondir in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. 

Bronwyn
Amazon

A lady with a scythe. We love that. Which lady? It turns out this poster reveals Bronwyn played by Nazanin Boniadi. Bronwyn is a human healer who lives in Middle-earth’s Southlands. She and Arondir are engaged in a forbidden love affair.

Ben Rothstein/Prime Video

Amazon recently revealed a closer look at Ring of Power‘s Bronwyn.

Galadriel
Amazon

Gold, silver, and a lot of metal-work, oh my! This beautiful intricate sword and delicate silver armor belong to none other than Galadriel. Played by Morfydd Clark, Galadriel is not the calm, ethereal lady we see her to be in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

Instead, she is angry, stubborn, and on a quest to avenger her brother. Galadriel also serves as the brash leader of the Northern Armies.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power New Character Posters: Book Keepers & Other Characters

The rest of the new Lord of the Rings characters carry with them tomes, scrolls, or nothing at all in their posters.

If you want to skip right to a specific character from Rings of Power, you can do so here: King Elendil // Pharazôn // Isildur // Elrond // High King Gil-galad // Prince Durin IV // Queen Regent Míriel // The Stranger // Poppy Proudfellow // Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot // Largo Brandyfoot // Halbrand // Theo // Arondir // Bronwyn // Galadriel // Kemen // Eärien // Marigold Brandyfoot // Sadoc Burrows // Celebrimbor // Princess Disa

Kemen
Amazon

Kemen is an original character created The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He is Pharazôn‘s son and a Numenorean noble. When we meet Kemen, he’s coasting through life on wealth and privilege.

Prime Video

But it seems like his journey will take him beyond his starting point. Leon Wadham plays Kemen in Rings of Power.

Eärien
Amazon

Books are powerful objects in the Lord of the Rings universe. The holder of this book is Eärien, an original Lord of the Rings character created for Rings of Power. Eärien is a Numenorean noble and the daughter of King Elendil. Ema Horvath plays Eärien.

Marigold Brandyfoot
Amazon

Marigold Brandyfoot seems to be another Harefoot that will appear in Rings of Power. We don’t know much about her just yet.

Prime Video
Sadoc Burrows
Amazon

A mysterious scroll with mysterious runes. We imagine we will soon unroll it and find out what important news it holds. In the meanwhile, we now know that this Rings of Power character is Sadoc Burrows.

Prime Video

Played by Sir Lenny Henry, Sadoc Burrows is one of the Harfoots. These Lord of the Rings characters are the ancestors of Hobbits.

Celebrimbor
Amazon

This scroll feels just a bit richer than the last. But looks can be deceiving. However, given the lavish clothing and sweeping script in the image… we feel this character may be an elf. Here to impart more wisdom, we are certain.

Prime Video

And it turns out that this character has wisdom indeed. This Lord of the Rings character is Celebrimbor. A master smith, Celebrimbor met Sauron when he was disguised as Annatar. Claiming to be an emissary of the Valar, Sauron taught the elves how to make rings of power. But unbeknownst to them, the rings contained binding magic. Celebrimbor himself created the three elven rings of power. Celebrimbor is played by Charles Edwards in Rings of Power.

Princess Disa
Amazon

Gold hands and even more golden robes. And is that a golden acorn, we spy? We know now that this is none other than Princess Disa, a dwarven princess played by Sophia Nomvete.

In a bold move, #TheRingsOfPower condenses Tolkien’s Middle-earth timeline and adds entirely new characters. Sophia Nomvete’s dwarven princess, Disa, and Ismael Cruz Córdova’s Silvan elf, Arondir, broaden the notion of who lives in Middle-earth.

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— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) February 10, 2022

As the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power draws closer, we can’t wait to learn about these characters and more. The new Lord of the Rings series releases on September 2, 2022.

Originally published on February 3, 2022.