The first season of the TV series was filmed in New Zealand. For the second season, they decided to move the production to England. Lindsey Weber, one of the series' producers, explains that they are now moving in the same environments as JRR Tolkien wrote his books in.
He was inspired by them, and we're now trying to recreate the feeling. We've had the opportunity to build more and bigger, we've learned to do it a little better, even though it's aesthetically the same thing, she says.
Everything is Secret
A large part of what was used in New Zealand has been transported to England, but they've also built a lot of new things – all by hand.
Much of the filming takes place in the venerable Bray Studios, located in Windsor just outside London. This is where, among other things, the cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show" was filmed.
When TT visits the set, everything about the plot is secret, and the actors are deliberately vague in their interviews. However, those responsible for production can tell more. Kristian Milsted, who is in charge of production design, has wanted to evoke a sense of more darkness and brutality this season.
It's fun to try to get the audience to feel at home, and then pull them out of it. What we're doing this season is rougher, darker, but still always interesting.
"Nice Build"
In New Zealand, more special effects were used, but now they're building 80-90 percent of the sets and scenes "for real".
It's important to build so that the audience becomes immersed in what's being told, so that you don't sit and think "that was a nice build". Everything should be a whole.
He shows a model of how some of the streets they built for Numinor can relatively easily be changed into something else.
We also have restrictions, we have to share sets and facades. That makes it a bit difficult sometimes when it comes to scheduling filming. Sometimes a set has to look like three different places depending on where you put the camera.
In a built-up cave, about 40 extras dressed as orcs are waiting.
Here we were inspired by the trenches dug during the First World War. It's dark and dirty. For the tent where their leader Adar resides, we got thousands of meters of Indian cotton to cover the tent with. You can see through it, but it has a very dark quality.
"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" premieres on August 29 on Prime Video.
Correction: In an earlier version, the wrong title was stated.
The first three episodes of the second season will be released on Prime Video on August 29. The final episode will air on October 3.
In the new season, Sauron has returned after being driven out by Galadriel. He is now trying to rebuild his power and ensure that the rings bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to him.
Among the actors are Charlie Vickers as Sauron, Sam Hazeldine as Adar, Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, and Gavi Singh Chera as Merimac.
Swedish Charlotte Brändström is directing a few episodes again. Louise Hooper and Sanaa Hamri are also directing this season.
