--- description: The sprawling Lord of the Rings prequel boasts dozens of characters. Some are pulled from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, and others are new. title: 20 'Rings of Power' Characters You Need to Know Before Watching the 'Lord of the Rings' Prequel image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt804fce4324203466/698a3509929fad8c20bf8f43/bronwyn-arondir-theo-rings-of-power.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [streaming](/tag/streaming/) ## streaming Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 20 Important Characters You Need to Know Before Watching _The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power_  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Aug 31, 2022 9:27 PM CUT  (L-R) Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn, Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir, and Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo in The Rings of Power (L-R) Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn, Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir, and Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo in The Rings of PowerBen Rothstein—Amazon Studios  by [Eliana Dockterman](/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Correspondent Aug 31, 2022 9:27 PM CUT [_The Rings of Power_](https://time.com/6197384/rings-of-power-trailer-breakdown-lord-of-the-rings/ "undefined"), the new J.R.R. Tolkien series that premieres on Prime Video Sept. 1, takes place during the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events of _Lord of the Rings_. It begins after Sauron’s master, the evil lord Morgoth, is defeated. Sauron may have gone into hiding, but he’s still alive: the series will eventually show Sauron’s creation of the titular rings of power—including the one ring to rule them all. [Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay](https://time.com/6205593/the-rings-of-power-secrets-cast-creators/ "undefined") have already plotted out five seasons that will culminate in a battle between Sauron’s evil forces and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Anyone who has read the books or watched [Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the _Lord of the Rings_ trilogy](https://entertainment.time.com/2009/12/29/the-10-best-movies-of-the-decade/slide/the-lord-of-the-rings-trilogy-2001-03/ "undefined") knows where the story is headed: During that battle, a man named Isildur cuts the ring from Sauron’s finger, thus defeating him. But he is unable to bring himself to destroy the powerful object: thousands of years later, that task falls to a hobbit named Frodo. Still, the showrunners have promised a story—with many twists, surprises, and adventures along the way—that deepens our understanding of that final showdown. **Read More:** [_The Secretive, Extravagant, Bighearted World of_ The Rings of Power_, the Most Expensive Show Ever Made_](https://time.com/6205837/the-rings-of-power-amazon-most-expensive/ "undefined") To understand the story, you need to know the main players of the Second Age. Some characters will be familiar: The immortal lives of elves span Middle-earth’s many ages. Tolkien fans may know other characters by name since they’re referenced in his books and particularly the appendices of _The Return of the King_ that outline the events of the Second Age. Other characters are brand new, and what part they’ll play in the larger story remains a mystery. Here’s everyone you need to know before you watch the show. ## Galadriel (Morfydd Clark)  Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in The Rings of Power Matt Grace—Prime Video The role of Galadriel was immortalized by a young Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the _Lord of the Rings_ trilogy. In that movie she was a powerful—even a little bit terrifying—elf who helped guide Frodo on his journey to destroy the ring. She even resisted the temptation to take the powerful object when Frodo offered it to her, which is no small feat. Elves are immortal, and in _The Rings of Power_, we meet a much younger version of Galadriel, played by Clark. She is thousands of years younger than Blanchett’s version and far more brazen. The show promises to show how she evolves into the wise stateswoman we meet in _Lord of the Rings_. **Read More:** [_How Galadriel Became One of_ Lord of the Rings’ _Most Fascinating Characters_](https://time.com/6209860/galadriel-the-rings-of-power-tolkien/ "undefined") At the beginning of the series, she is an impressive warrior determined to avenge the death of her brother who was killed fighting Sauron and his henchmen. She hunts for the disappeared Sauron across Middle-earth. ## Halbrand (Charlie Vickers)  Charlie Vickers as Halbrand in Rings of Power Matt Grace—Prime Video Halbrand is a new character written for _The Rings of Power_. The mortal man with a mysterious background is on the run when he meets Galadriel. Many fans have already begun theorizing that Halbrand may be hiding his identity given that he seems to be a rather important player and was never mentioned in Tolkien’s works. Plus the whole “mysterious background” description should give you pause. And, after all, Tolkien wasn’t big on coincidences. People tend to happen upon each other by fate in his stories. Stumbling on Galadriel must signal that he has some larger role to play in the fight between good and evil. ## Elrond (Robert Aramayo)  Robert Aramayo as Elrond in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video _Lord of the Rings_ fans will recognize Elrond, the half-elf, half-man who presides over the elven land of Rivendell. (Hugo Weaving played Elrond in the Jackson trilogy.) Elrond not only fights against Sauron’s army in the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, but he plays a pivotal role in determining the fate of the ring. Thousands of years later, he will help Frodo with his mission to destroy the object. **Read More:**[ _The Lord of the Rings Movies Are Now Holiday Movies. Here’s Why_](https://time.com/5919982/lord-of-the-rings-christmas-movies/ "undefined") But before Elrond became an esteemed military leader or had his daughter Arwen, he was a statesmen working for the elf High King Gil-Galad. Early in the show, he is sent on a mission to the Dwarf kingdom of Kazad-dûm early in the show to meet with his old friend Prince Durin IV. ## High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker)  Benjamin Walker as Gil-Galad in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video _Lord of the Rings_ fans got a brief look at High King Gil-Galad (played by Mark Ferguson) in the first few minutes of _Fellowship of the Ring_. Gil-Galad formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men with Elendil and can be seen in that battle. He is arguably the most important elf living in the Second Age. In the show, Gil-Galad rules over the elf kingdom of Lindon. ## Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards)  Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video Readers and fans of the popular _Shadow of War_ and _Shadow of Mordor_ video games will recognize Celebrimbor as the elf smith who was tricked into forging the rings of power by a disguised Sauron. The show quite literally hinges on his creation. So when Celebrimbor shows up in the early episodes of _Rings of Power_ and talks longingly about wanting to create powerful objects, those words are laden with dramatic irony. **Read More**:[ _Exclusive: This Fan-Favorite Character Is Joining the Second Season of Rings of Power_](https://time.com/6205027/cirdan-the-rings-of-power-season-2/ "undefined") ## Isildur (Maxim Baldry)  Maxim Baldry as Isildur in The Rings of Power Prime Video Isildur is the man who manages to cut the one ring from Sauron’s finger. But he fails to destroy the ring itself. That failure allows for Sauron to rise again in the Third Age when _Lord of the Rings_ takes place. In the movies, Aragorn, a descendent of Isildur, frets that he, like his ancestor, will betray his human weakness when in battle against great evil. But while Isildur’s tale is a tragedy, he also accomplished some good things. He founded and ruled Gondor with his brother Anárion. And he helped, along with his father and Gil-Galad, lead the fight against Sauron. When we meet him in the show, he is just a sailor, not yet a leader of men. ## Elendil (Lloyd Owen)  Lloyd Owen as Elendil in The Rings of Power Prime Video Isildur’s father Elendil played a crucial role in the fight against Sauron. His name literally translates to “Elf Friend,” and he did indeed form a crucial alliance with the elves to stop great evil from spreading through Middle-earth. When we meet him in the series, he is captaining a ship and trying to manage the tempers of his adult children. ## Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur)  Owain Arthur as Prince Durin in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video Durin’s father King Durin III rules over the Dwarf kingdom of Khazad-dûm. You may recall Gandalf facing down a Balrog in the mines of a destroyed Khazad-dûm (later known as Moria) toward the end of _Fellowship of the Ring_. But during the Second Age the subterranean kingdom is flourishing, thanks to the riches hidden in the mountain where the dwarves reside. ## Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete)  Sophia Nomvete as Princess Disa in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video Durin’s wife, Disa, is the first female dwarf ever depicted in a Tolkien adaptation. She is one of many dwarves who sings to the mountain in order to divine its secrets. ## Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova)  Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir in Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video Arondir is an elf written for the show. He is Silvan Elf rather than a High Elf, which basically means he’s less interested in pomp and circumstance and more interested in nature. The Silvan Elves live in what becomes Mirkwood and Lothlórien. When we meet Arondir, he’s a soldier who is in love with the human Bronwyn. As you may recall from Aragorn and Arwen’s romance, human-elf relationships are frowned upon in Middle-earth. Humans are mortal and elves are not, so any relationship between them is bound to end in tragedy. We know from the trailers that Arondir eventually finds himself battling a whole slew of orcs. **Read More:** [_Review:_ The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power _Is Filled With Beautiful Images and Tired Archetypes_](https://time.com/6209353/rings-of-power-review/ "undefined") ## Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi)  Nazanin Boniadi as Bronwyn in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video Bronwyn is a healer and single mother to son Theo. They live in Tirharad, a name that translates to “near Harad.” Given that Harad is a mysterious region south of Mordor, that doesn’t bode particularly well for her people. Perhaps that’s why Arondir—and possibly Bronwyn—run into orcs. ## Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin)  Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo in Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video The son of Bronwyn, Theo’s character is another invention of the show. Intriguingly, in trailers for the series he’s looking a rather a broken sword with evil Mordor vibes. What the weapon is or how Theo acquired it—perhaps from his unidentified father?—remains a mystery. **Read More:** [_5 Big Questions_ The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power _Needs to Answer_](https://time.com/6209856/gandalf-meteor-man-questions-the-rings-of-power/ "undefined") ## Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh)  Markella Kavenagh as Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot in Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video What would a _Lord of the Rings_ show be without hobbits—or at least hobbit-adjacent creatures? Nori is a harfoot, one of the nomadic ancestors of the hobbits. Tolkien wrote about harfoots in his work “Concerning Hobbits.” The harfoots hide from humans and other creatures, which explains why Nori may be missing from the great histories of Middle-earth. But she has an important role to play in the show. She discovers a stranger who has fallen from the sky on a meteor and, itching for adventure, vows to help him find his way to his people. **Read More**:[ _The Rings of Power Exclusive: Producer Says Fan Theories About Sauron Are Wrong_](https://time.com/6205023/sauron-the-rings-of-power-identity/ "undefined") ## Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards)  (L-R) Dylan Smith, Markella Kavenagh, and Megan Richards in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video Poppy is Nori’s friend and often finds herself dragged into Nori’s mischievous antics. ## The Stranger (Daniel Weyman)  Amazon A mysterious man falls from the sky on a meteor. He seems to have some magical powers but doesn’t speak Nori’s tongue so his origins are unclear. The showrunners have dubbed him The Stranger and remained mum on who he might be. This is pure speculation on my part, but whenever I see a magic-user in this show, I will automatically assume that person is a wizard until proven otherwise. Technically, according to Tolkien’s writing, neither Gandalf nor Saruman arrived in Middle-earth until the Third Age. But it’s certainly possible, if not likely, the writers would find a way to work a beloved character like that into the show. ## Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry)  Thusitha Jayasundera, Lenny Henry, and Sara Zwangobani in The Rings of Power Prime Video Lenny Henry is another harfoot who is able to read signs from the stars. He appears to be at least one of the leaders of the traveling group. ## Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith)  The harfoots in Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video Largo Brandyfoot is Nori’s father who indulges her occasionally troublesome ways. ## Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson)  Cynthia Addai-Robinson in The Rings of Power Ben Rothstein—Prime Video One key location in _Rings of Power_ will be the island kingdom of Númenor, which was ruled by humans of half-elven heritage. Aragorn, Boromir, and Faramir all descend from the men of Númenor. But by the time of _Lord of the Rings_, Númenor has fallen: Our heroes briefly sail through its ruins in _Fellowship of the Ring_. But at the time of _Rings of Power_, the land is still formidable. When the show begins, Queen Regent Míriel rules over the land. But her people are restless and divided over the future of the kingdom. And a man named Pharazôn has some ideas of his own. ## Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle)  Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn in The Rings of Power Matt Grace—Prime Video Pharazôn is an advisor to Míriel. But he’s also amassing a following of his own. He will play a major role in determining the fate of Númenor. ## Mysterious character from the Rhûn (Bridie Sisson)  Bridie Sisson in The Rings of Power Prime Video Many fans clocked a mysterious character in the Comic-Con trailer for _Rings of Power_ and theorized the person might be Sauron in disguise. Though the internet initially thought this blonde-haired mystical being was played by the actor Anson Boon, _Rings of Power_ executive producer Lindsey Weber [confirmed to TIME that in fact the character will be portrayed by Bridie Sisson](https://time.com/6205023/sauron-the-rings-of-power-identity/ "undefined"). She would not confirm the character’s name, but did say that she is traveling from the east “from the lands of Rhûn,” which happens to be one of Sauron’s favorite haunts. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6209301/the-rings-of-power-characters-cast/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6209301/the-rings-of-power-characters-cast/"},"headline":"20 Important Characters You Need to Know Before Watching The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power","datePublished":"2022-08-31T21:27:06.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:53:58.692Z","description":"Some are pulled from J.R.R. 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