Prime Video Officially Reveals ‘Rings of Power’ Season 3 Is Giving the Balrog a Voice

Middle-earth has never been short on unforgettable monsters, but few loom larger over The Lord of the Rings than the Balrog. Ever since The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power first teased the ancient creature beneath Khazad-dûm, fans have eagerly awaited the moment it would fully emerge as one of the series’ biggest threats. With Season 3 set during the War of the Elves and Sauron, that long-awaited confrontation appears to be getting closer than ever.

The Prime Video series has steadily expanded Tolkien’s Second Age mythology across its first two seasons, introducing new interpretations of iconic characters while bringing legendary figures from the author’s writings to live action for the first time. Now, as the story inches closer to some of the most important events in Middle-earth’s history, one of Tolkien’s most fearsome creations is about to receive a major new addition that nobody saw coming.

During The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power‘s San Diego Comic-Con Hall H panel, Prime Video announced that Simon Pegg has officially joined Season 3 as the voice of the Balrog. The surprise casting marks the first time the legendary creature will have a voice in the series, signaling that the ancient being will play a much larger role as Sauron’s war against the Elves intensifies. Pegg is no stranger to blockbuster franchises, having starred in the Mission: Impossible movies as Benji Dunn while also becoming a fan favorite through Star Trek, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End. Adding him to The Rings of Power gives the series another recognizable genre veteran as it heads into what is shaping up to be its biggest season yet.

This is a developing story. Please refresh your page for updates from Collider at San Diego Comic-Con!

Release Date

September 1, 2022

Network

Amazon Prime Video

Showrunner

John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip

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