Charlie Vickers returns to his role as Sauron in Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but with a dramatically different look, one that will aid him in deceiving the denizons of Middle Earth. The show will be back on August 2 for a new season to return fans to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age, and promises to show “the ascending evil presence of Sauron as he continues his vengeful quest for complete power.

Here’s the official description:

“In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of The Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.”

The Rings of Power stands as Prime Video’s most-watched premiere day and cumulatively resulted in more than 32 billion minutes streamed. While the first season went head-to-head against HBO’s House of the Dragon, the second season will launch right around the time Dragon‘s second season is wrapping up.

The teaser trailer was released at Amazon’s inagural upfront presentation in New York City this morning, days after Warner Bros. announced details about its new LOTR movie, titled The Hunt for Gollum, which is set during Tolkien’s Second Age and brings back original trilogy director Peter Jackson in a producing role.

The Rings of Power‘s second season is from returning showrunners and executive producers J.D. Payne & Patrick McKay.

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