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This article contains a massive spoiler for "The Rings of Power" season 2. Proceed with caution, and watch the finale first if you don't want The Stranger's identity spoiled!

Well, folks, the cat's out of the bag. After 16 episodes and two full seasons, the fading moments of "The Rings of Power" season 2 finale finally delivered the one word we've been itching to hear for endless hours of Middle-earth viewing: Gandalf. Yes, Daniel Weyman's mysterious and confused Istar is the one and only Grey Wizard. As the finale wraps up its various storylines and sets the stage for a likely third season to come, one of the last things we get is a scene between Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) and The Stranger. As the sequence draws to a close, Bombadil coaxes the utterance of the inevitable from his companion, and the Wizard in training takes a deep breath and says that his name is "Gandalf.

The ending of The Rings of Power Season 2 largely hinged on the repercussions of Sauron’s actions. Since Celebrimbor had given the rings for the men to Galadriel for safekeeping, he was brutally killed by Sauron. Following that, in a Julius Caesar-esque scene, the Orcs betrayed Adar and pledged their allegiance to Sauron. Before perishing, Adar returned the ring that he got from Galadriel to her, which she weaponized to take on the dark lord himself. All the way in Numenor, Pharazon began circling up the Faithful (a sect of Numenoreans who were faithful to the Valar), thereby prompting Miriel to give the legendary sword Narsil to Elendil so that he could script his own destiny. Instead of helping the people who were holed up in Elargir, Kemen turned them into Numenorean slaves who were tasked with building their armada in exchange for food. Despite losing his father to Balrog,...

By far the strangest interlude in J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy comes near the start of The Fellowship of the Ring, right after Frodo and his friends leave the Shire with the One Ring in tow. They cut through a forest and run into a jolly stranger named Tom Bombadil. Tom wears a blue jacket and yellow boots. He sings a lot. He talks to trees. And he's apparently so ancient and powerful that the One Ring, the item everyone in Middle-earth is freaking out about, has zero effect on him.

Tom helps the hobbits out of a few jams, sends them on their way, and then is barely ever mentioned again. He doesn't fit neatly into any of the extensive lore Tolkien so painstakingly crafted, nor does he have any appreciable effect on the wider plot. That's why most adaptations of The Lord of the Rings,...

Despite receiving significant fan criticism, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” became a major success on Amazon. As we’ve noted in several of our previous reports, the show was renewed for a second season, which premiered on August 29, 2024, and has been widely viewed as a notable improvement by both fans and critics. It will be intriguing to see how everything unfolds, especially with the showrunners’ recent major revelations.

One of the new characters introduced in Season 2 is Tom Bombadil, portrayed by the acclaimed Rory Kinnear. We’ve already covered Bombadil’s role here on Comic Basics, discussing what Kinnear and the showrunners have planned for this iconic character.

The moment has finally arrived: Bombadil made his debut in “The Rings of Power” in spectacular fashion! The writers chose to stay true to Tolkien’s original story, giving Bombadil a lore-accurate introduction that is sure to delight fans.

Despite a lot of fan hate and criticism, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power became a great success series on Amazon. As we have previously mentioned in a number of our reports, the show was renewed for a second season, and the season premiered on August 29, 2024, being seen as a significant improvement by both fans and critics. Seeing how everything plays out will be interesting, especially in light of the showrunners’ most recent significant disclosures.

Among the new characters that will be featured in Season 2 is Tom Bombadil, who will be portrayed by the renowned Rory Kinnear. We have already written about Bombadil here on Fiction Horizon, revealing what Kinnear and the showrunners have in store for the character.

The time has finally come, as Bombadil finally made his The Rings of Power debut in a most brilliant way! Namely, the writers have decided to respect Tolkien’s original story,...

Tom Bombadil, a mysterious character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, recently sparked renewed interest from fans after appearing in an unexpected location in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power television series. In the second episode of the show’s second season, Bombadil is seen saving the character known as the Stranger from a large, sentient tree in the desert region of Rhûn. This portrayal departs significantly from Tolkien’s writings, where Bombadil is solely described within the Old Forest near the Shire.

In the episode, Bombadil effortlessly commands an “Old Man Ironwood” tree to release the Stranger, mirroring how he rescues hobbits from a similar tree called “Old Man Willow” in Tolkien’s book The Fellowship of the Ring. Some fans now theorize that these magical “Old Man” trees may be spread across Middle-earth and serve as conduits for Bombadil’s powers. As one viewer noted,...

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy’s practically untouchable, but even legends aren’t flawless. Sure, he nailed the epic battles and emotional arcs, but there’s one character omission that still haunts some fans. As Rings of Power steps into the spotlight, it’s giving a second life to a character Jackson left on the cutting room floor— and fans are getting all the feels.

Peter Jackson. | Credit: Mike Walen/Cca-by-sa-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

You know it’s serious when you get chills from a single line delivery! With this overlooked gem now winning hearts in Rings of Power, some are starting to wonder if Jackson might’ve missed a golden opportunity. Could this be the one character who slipped through Middle-earth’s cinematic cracks? Buckle up for a Middle-earth revelation!

Tom Bombadil’s Live-Action Debut: A Fresh Take on Middle-Earth’s Enigmatic Figure Rory Kinnear as Tom...

The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power series produced by Amazon thrives as an extraordinary precursor to Lord of the Rings (Lotr), one of the most iconic franchises. The series has taken the world by storm with its star-studded cast and imaginative writing.

Rory Kinnear is one of the most fascinating additions in the second season. He plays Tom Bombadil, who is depicted vaguely in J.R.R. Tolkien’s original book. Though the show’s portrayal of the character is very different from its original perspective, fans have mostly loved the performance.

The Bombadil reboot: Rings of Power brought new life to the mysterious character

At first, it seemed that fans were uncertain if the producers would give this ambiguous character justice considering he featured sparingly in the books. However, Rory Kinnear’s Tom Bombadil took a different direction while still retaining the essence of its original form.

Related“This...

The Rings of Power: Why is Tom Bombadil's Song Important in Season 2? - Main Image

The oldest of all beings in Middle-Earth finally arrived in The Rings of Power season 2 and as part of his introduction to the stranger, he sings a little tune. What's up with Tom Bombadil's song in The Rings of Power season 2?

Spoiler Warning: This article contains major spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2, so proceed with caution.

The Oldest of Old Unveils Himself in The Rings of Power Season 2

Tom Bombadil (played by Rory Kinnear) officially arrived in Middle-Earth, specifically in The Rings of Power season 2 episode 4 titled Eldest.

As the episode's name teases, the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) is the first to stumble upon the "oldest than the old" in Middle-Earth.

When the Stranger is looking for a staff (which fans believe confirms him to be the Gandalf they've been hoping for from...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, episode 4 is now streaming on Prime Video, and among the Ents (and Ent-wives), eerie Barrow-Wights and the debut of Tom Bombadil, the most significant talking point might be our biggest hint yet as to the true identity of The Stranger (Daniel Weyman).

Spoilers follow.

When Nori (Markella Kavanaugh) and Poppy (Megan Richards) get separated from their "Istar" friend after being whisked away by a sandstorm he caused (he still doesn't quite have a grasp of his powers), they encounter a group of larger Halflings who call themselves Stoors (Smeagol/Gollum is believed to have been a Stoorish Hobbit). After some initial hostilities, the Harfoots attempt to better explain who they were travelling with.

After describing the Stranger as "a giant" and "bigger than an Elf," Harfoot leader Gundabel sarcastically interrupts with, "oh, so he's a great big grand-elf?"

Say grand-elf...

The fourth episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is out now on Prime Video, and this mid-season turning point brought in a bevy of exciting characters and creatures from across J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. But few were a bigger deal than Tom Bombadil, the quirky forest-spirit-guy whom the episode, "Eldest," is named after.

If you've read The Lord of the Rings, you'll be familiar with Old Tom. He appears early in the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, and gives some respite and a helping hand to the Hobbits on their way out of the Shire. He's been living on Middle-earth since time immemorial, and communes with nature as he sings silly songs and spends time with his wife, Goldberry. Tom's section of the book is notorious for being kind of a whimsical aside that doesn't especially contribute to the overall story — which...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power unveiled the first live-action depiction of Tom Bombadil in the fourth episode of season two on Thursday.

The J.R.R. Tolkien character was absent from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, but plays a key role in The Rings of Power — helping guide the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) as he struggles with his uncontrollable powers. In the books, Bombadil is portrayed as a jolly singing fellow who has been around since the beginning of time. Some Tolkien fans love him, others find him annoyingly over the top. Either way, inserting such a colorful and whimsical character into a dramatic story was a tricky endeavor.

From the moment the first photo of The Rings of Power‘s Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) was revealed, fans have debated the show’s depiction — is he too serious? Is he not enough like the books? As fans are discovering,...

Eat earth, dig deep, avoid spoilers. This article discusses plot details from the latest episode of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power."

You might say that "The Lord of the Rings" exists in the context of all in which we live and what came before. Whether it be the animated movies from decades past, the seminal live-action "The Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy, the various video games, or "The Rings of Power" series, all stand on the shoulders of what Professor J.R.R. Tolkien originally brought to life when he put pen to paper all those years ago. One needn't look far to find debates raging over whether a particular adaptation "feels like Tolkien" or not, which conveniently cuts right to the heart of the matter. While other IPs seem doomed to a death spiral of endlessly self-reflexive tendencies and references, season 2 of "The Rings of Power...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is off to a great start! The first three episodes were released on Prime Video on Aug. 29. Now, the fourth episode of the season is now streaming, as of Thursday, Sept. 5.

Finally, in the third episode, Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and Sauron (Charlie Vickers), disguised as Annatar, started making the rings for the Dwarves. It’s called the “Rings of Power” after all, so they should probably get busy.

Elrond and Galadriel set off toward Eregion

In episode 4, the story picks up at the very end of the third episode. Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) have assembled a team to accompany them on their way to Eregion. They believe that Sauron has already returned to influence Celebrimbor, and they’re right!

After traveling for a while from Lindon, they find a bridge on the quickest way to Eregion has...

The Rings of Power returned to our small screens with a second season. Prime Video started things off with a three-episode premiere, and, well, all three of them were pretty boring. On a technical level, the show continues to be great. The cast is splendid. The story, on a thematic level, maintains some form of relevance. But the meandering storytelling, reliance on fanservice, and echoing of the aesthetic of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy keep the show from becoming its own thing. In contrast, a lot of critics who had the privilege of watching all the episodes of the show before filing their reviews were absolutely raving about it. I wasn’t one of them. But will my opinion about the show begin to change after the fourth episode? (Spoiler alert) No, it won’t. I mean, there are things to like about it, but overall,...

Prime Video (via Nerdist.com) has released the first clip from tomorrow's fourth episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and it introduces a character fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's work have been waiting to see brought to life on screen for a very long time.

In the clip, we see The Stranger get himself into a spot of bother when he attempts to pull branch from a tree to fashion his wizard's staff. In a moment that recalls Merry and Pippin falling foul to Old Man Willow in the book, the Stranger is trapped and consumed by the tree until old Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) comes to the rescue.

If you've read Tolkien's seminal trilogy, you should be very familiar with this mysterious character, who was introduced along with his wife Goldberry when Frodo and his company made their way through the Old Forest in The Fellowship of the Ring.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power became a massive hit on Amazon despite facing significant criticism. Renewed for a second season, which premiered on August 29, 2024, the show has been praised by both fans and critics as a major improvement. With exciting developments on the horizon, particularly concerning recent revelations from the showrunners, there’s much to look forward to.

One of the highly anticipated additions in Season 2 is Tom Bombadil, portrayed by the acclaimed Rory Kinnear. Known for his intriguing role in Tolkien’s work, Bombadil’s inclusion has generated considerable excitement among fans.

While we’ve previously covered Kinnear’s and other cast members’ insights into the character, this report will focus on the showrunners’ perspectives on Tom Bombadil and what makes him such a compelling figure.

In a recent interview with GQ, showrunners Jd Payne and Patrick McKay provided insights into the upcoming season of The Rings of Power,...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power became a huge hit series on Amazon in spite of a lot of anger and criticism. The show was renewed for a second season, which ultimately debuted on August 29, 2024, and is seen as a major improvement by both fans and reviewers, as we have previously stated in several of our reports. It will be intriguing to see how everything turns out, particularly in light of the recent major revelations made by the showrunners.

Among the new characters that will be featured in Season 2 is Tom Bombadil, who will be portrayed by the renowned Rory Kinnear, whose interpretation of the character we have already shared. Tom Bombadil is one of Tolkien’s most fascinating characters, and the fans are looking forward to seeing what the show does with him.

You may remember that we’ve already reported on what Kinnear and part...

When The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring hit theaters in 2001, fans were captivated by its epic storytelling and stunning visuals. But for some die-hard Tolkien enthusiasts, one question lingered: where was Tom Bombadil? This whimsical, enigmatic character—alongside the menacing Old Man Willow—played a memorable role in the early chapters of the book.

Robert Aramayo in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | Image via Amazon MGM Studios

Yet, Peter Jackson made a bold decision to exclude them from his film adaptation. Why? It all boiled down to keeping the focus sharp and the storyline streamlined. Here’s the full story!

Why Peter Jackson Cut Tom Bombadil and Old Man Willow from The Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson. | Credit: Mike Walen/Cca-by-sa-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

When The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring hit theaters in 2001, it quickly became a cinematic masterpiece.

Despite facing significant criticism, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power emerged as a notable success for Amazon. As previously reported, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on August 29, 2024, and is considered a substantial improvement by both fans and critics. The developments in the new season are eagerly anticipated, particularly with the latest announcements from the showrunners.

Among the new additions, Tom Bombadil is set to make a notable appearance in Season 2. The enigmatic character, portrayed by the acclaimed Rory Kinnear, has already generated considerable buzz.

In a recent interview with The Wrap, co-showrunner Patrick McKay and executive producer Lindsey Weber shared their thoughts on Bombadil and his role in the upcoming season. In this report, we’ll dive into their insights on the character and his significance.

In an extensive interview with The Wrap, McKay and Weber offered insights into the upcoming season of The Rings of Power,...

Despite a lot of criticism and anger, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power became a great success series on Amazon. As we have previously said in several of our stories, the show was renewed for a second season that finally premiered on August 29, 2024, and is deemed a significant improvement by both fans and critics. Seeing how everything plays out will be interesting, especially in light of the showrunners’ recent big announcements.

As far as the new characters are concerned, Tom Bombadil is one of the characters set to make an impact in Season 2, and one of Tolkien’s most intriguing characters will be played by the legendary Rory Kinnear, whose insights into the character we have already revealed.

But, in a recent interview for The Wrap, co-showrunner Patrick McKay and executive producer Lindsey Weber have also discussed the character and his impact, and in this report, we...

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has garnered popularity on Amazon, despite mixed fan reactions. The series, renewed for a second season, will premiere on August 29, 2024. With high expectations following a critically successful first season, it will be interesting to see how the new episodes fare.

Although the first season didn’t fully win over fans, the early critics’ reviews for Season 2 are positive, with the season receiving solid marks and a Certified Fresh rating. This bodes well for the series as it prepares to meet its audience’s expectations.

We’ve been sharing updates and teasers about the upcoming season, and now it’s time to see what the critics are saying. Here are the initial reactions that earned the series a Certified Fresh rating before its official premiere:

…Even so, there are some great new additions (Bombadil), and Sauron's backstory is… quite something (Venom...

"Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside."

We recently got confirmation that a fan-favorite character from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Tom Bombadil, will make his live-action debut in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, and the actor who will bring the "Merry Fellow" to life, Rory Kinnear, has now confirmed that the Prime Video series will be doing something "different" with the character.

If you've read Tolkien's seminal trilogy, you should be very familiar with this mysterious character, who was introduced along with his wife Goldberry when Frodo and his company made their way through the Old Forest in The Fellowship of the Ring. Bombadil was clearly a very powerful individual, who was actually able to...

Rufus Wainwright has lent his voice to some timeless words over the years, from modern classics penned by Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell to the traditional songs on last year’s Folkocracy project. But he’s never before used those golden tones to sing about something quite as grand as The Lord of the Rings — until now.

The second season of Amazon’s splashy prequel series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power features Wainwright singing lead vocals on a song called “Old Tom Bombadil,” written by composer Bear McCreary.

This article contains (likely) spoilers for "The Rings of Power" season 2.

Soundtracks are a big part of what brings a story to life — nowhere more than in Middle-earth. Howard Shore's award-winning score for Peter Jackson's trilogy is an iconic part of the "Lord of the Rings" experience. Bear McCreary's musical compositions for Amazon Studios' "The Rings of Power" series, while newer, are already a fantasy staple, as well. They're also a body of work that is about to get a lot bigger when season 2 arrives on August 29, 2024.

In preparation for the new music, the streaming studio released the 25 names of the songs that will be on the digital track list, which will be released for fans' listening pleasure on August 23, six days before the season premieres. With so many titles, it's no surprise that there are also some light spoilers in the mix. This isn't anything new.

Ever since Led Zeppelin sang about the darkest depths of Mordor in their song “Ramble On,” The Lord of the Rings has had a long history of appearing in music.

From the progressive rock of Bo Hansson, to the black metal of Summoning and dungeon synth of Hole Dweller, Lotr has been particularly inspiring in the realm of heavy metal and its adjacent genres.

The escapism of Middle Earth and epic metal goes both ways, as composer Bear McCreary and Meshuggah singer Jens Kidman discovered while scoring a scene from the upcoming second season of the Amazon series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

In an exclusive behind the scenes featurette (watch below), McCreary elaborated on the collaboration, which came about when he was tasked with composing the music and theme for the massive hill-troll Damrod featured in the new season.

“Damrod is a troll that makes a mighty entrance,...

Exclusive: Prime Video is planning another big splash for its hit series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power at San Diego Comic-Con.

This year at Sdcc, ahead of the series’ Season 2 premiere on August 29, the streamer will host an exclusive press and influencer reception by invitation only on Thursday, July 25, in San Diego. It will be followed by The Rings of Power panel in Hall H on Friday from 11:05 a.m.-12:15 p.m. featuring the series’ showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay as well as cast giving fans a inside look at Season 2 in Middle-earth.

Afterward, at 1:45 p.m. at Venue 808 in San Diego, a fan meet-and-greet with cast will be held in conjunction with the official Lord of the Rings fan site TORn (TheOneRing.net). On display will be a curated collection of Season 2’s costumes and props.

Lord of the Rings:...

We recently learned that Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) will be introduced during season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and we now have confirmation that some far more nefarious creatures from the same never-adapted section of The Fellowship of the Ring will also make an appearance when the Prime Video series returns to our screens.

Empire Magazine has shared its Rings of Power season 2 covers along with a new still, and they feature Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, Charlie Vickers as Sauron (in both his previous Halbrand and new Annatar forms), and a first look at the terrifying Barrow-wights.

In J.R.R. Tolkien's book, the four hobbits encounter these undead horrors and almost come to a nasty end until Bombadil makes the save. We're not sure how they'll factor into the show, but the image suggests that it'll be Galadriel who runs into some eerie glowing fog on the Barrow Downs.

Excitement for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is heating up faster than a Helm’s Deep forge, with Tolkien fans eager to return to Middle-earth for more adventures in the beloved fantasy universe. Unfortunately, Nazanin Boniadi, who played Bronwyn, won’t return for new episodes of the Hobbit-inhabited series after briefly stepping away from acting in 2022.

For the uninitiated, Bronwyn is a human healer who gave birth to Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) and engaged in a forbidden romance with the Silvan elf warrior Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova). Eagle-eyed fans clocked Bronwyn’s absence from The Rings of Power Season 2 teaser and have wondered if the character would return. When she’s not sharing her gifts on camera, Boniadi is a staunch activist, so she briefly left acting to focus her attention on the #WomanLifeFreedom movement in Iran.

“I stepped away from acting in September 2022, to...

One of the most mysterious characters in the whole Tolkien universe, Tom Bombadil, will appear in the second season of The Rings of Power. Bombadil will be played by actor Rory Kinnear, who previously starred in the films The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Men.

A more detailed explanation of Tom Bombadil's story has always been at the top of the wish list of anyone who was not satisfied with the movie trilogy about Frodo and the Ring.

This will not be the character's first appearance on screen, but the first in an official adaptation. In Peter Jackson's films, episodes involving him were cut because they were unimportant to the plot.

Tom Is the Most Mysterious Entity in the Whole Story

Bombadil is one of Middle-earth's most mysterious inhabitants. He is the only character immune to the power of the Ring. When he wears it, Tom does not become invisible and is not tempted.

Rory Kinnear will play Tom Bombadil in season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, bringing the beloved and enigmatic J.R.R. Tolkien character to the screen for the first time. Kinnear, known for his roles in Black Mirror and the James Bond films, will portray Bombadil, a powerful and pacifistic figure […]

The Lord of the Rings: Rory Kinnear to Play Tom Bombadil in The Rings of Power...

Though the many big, small and no-screen adaptations of Jrr Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings and associated tomes, footnotes and apocrypha have offered portrayals of a wide variety of characters for fans to relish/debate, one has been notably absent. Well, fret no more, Tom Bombadil hive, because the all-singing, magic-slinging master of the yellow boots will finally get his due in the form of Rory Kinnear on The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Season 2.

Bombadil appealed to Rings Of Power executive producers Jd Payne and Patrick McKay, and they have him encountering the Halflings and Gand… Sorry, The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) on their quest.

"He’s whimsical and magical, and almost verging on silly. But also has the wisdom of the ages and the music of the spheres and deep emotional wells of ancient history and myth, and his conception and function are tied to...

After decades of being left out of many Lord of the Rings adaptations, Tom Bombadil is finally getting his moment in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The mystical character is set to appear in the second season of the Prime Video series where he will be played by Rory Kinnear (No Time to Die).

You can check out a handful of first-look photos of Tom Bombadil in The Rings of Power below.

Tom Bombadil appeared in The Fellowship of the Ring novel, helping Frodo Baggins and his friends on their journey. Dressed brightly with a penchant for nature and silly songs, Bombadil is one of the few creatures in Middle-earth that the One Ring has no power over. Described by J.R.R. Tolkien as “older than the old,” his appearance in The Rings of Power, which takes place thousands of years before The Lord of the Rings,...

A renowned Lord of the Rings character who didn’t see the light of day in the Peter Jackson movies is finally making his grand debut in season 2 of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and that’s Tom Bombadil, who’ll be played by already announced Rory Kinnear. Scroll down to see more photos of the Bombadil from season 2.

At the time of Kinnear’s announcement, it wasn’t revealed exactly which character he’d be playing in a recurring role.

In the J.R.R. Tolkien tome, Bombadil saves Frodo and the other hobbits from myriad perils. In season 2, Bombadil encounters the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) and his Harfoot friends Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards) on their journey to eastern Middle-earth.

The news about Bombadil was unveiled by Vanity Fair in a conversation with Rings of Power showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.

Tom Bombadil finally gets to dance in the sun.

The beloved Lord of the Rings character will make its live-action debut in Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, TVLine has learned.

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Penny Dreadful and The Diplomat vet Rory Kinnear is set for the role in the coming season, premiering Thursday, Aug.

Big news just dropped over at Vanity Fair: a first look at a character set to appear in The Rings of Power season 2 who has to date only made it into a few older radio versions, games, and foreign-language adaptations of The Lord of the Rings—Tom Bombadil, played by Rory Kinnear. Tom’s first live-action appearance is obviously a huge deal for The Rings of Power season 2 and Lord of the Rings fandom as a whole, especially because Peter Jackson chose to not include the beloved Tolkien character in his film trilogy, but how will he fit into the story of the Second Age of Middle-earth?

What Is Tom Bombadil’s Role in The Lord of the Rings and Why Isn’t He in the Movies?

On the page, Tom Bombadil appears early on in The Fellowship of the Ring, rescuing the four hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin...

Rory Kinnear’s first look as Rings of Power’s Tom Bombadil was met with harsh criticism. He is one of the most complicated figures in J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore and one that’s difficult to bring to the screen.

Rory Kinnear in Rings of Power via Vanity Fair / Amazon Studios

Many have made remarks on his appearance, while others were worried that his portrayal would bring the franchise to its ruin. Whatever the reasons of the fans, it seems like Kinnear will have a tough time justifying his role.

Rings Of Power Season 2 Introduces Tom Bombadil

In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, showrunner J.D. Payne explained how they brainstormed the introduction of Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil in the upcoming sequel to Rings of Power.

There’s a reason why he hasn’t been in prior adaptations, because in some ways, he’s sort of an anti-dramatic character.

Well, that's one way to resolve a years-long conspiracy theory among the weirdest and nerdiest of fans. The creative team behind "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is apparently taking no chances in the months leading up to season 2 of the Prime Video series, unwilling to let leaks or set photos ruin the biggest surprise in decades of Middle-earth lore. Instead, the fine folks over at Vanity Fair were given an exclusive first look at the burning question at the forefront of all our minds: Will the bizarre character known as Tom Bombadil, whose boots are yellow and is famously a merry fellow, appear in the streaming show? 

The answer to that little riddle is now confirmed to be a resounding yes. After all the biggest and most popular adaptations of author J.R.R. Tolkien's work to this point went out of their way to avoid mentioning...

The mysterious man who streaked through the sky like a fiery bolt and fell upon the ancestors of the Hobbits is simply referred to as The Stranger in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power credits. Immediately after his appearance, fans decided that the creators of the show were trying to introduce Gandalf into the story as a kind of fan service.

The appearance of this character literally screams that this is one of the Istari. Moreover, Tolkien's texts mention that the Istari had to learn a lot again after they acquired flesh bodies – this might explain The Stranger's temporary amnesia.

Why Could The Stranger Be Gandalf?

That the one who fell from the sky could be Gandalf is supported by his power over fire: even when stripped of his memory, he can make the flame go out and flare up again. In Tolkien's books, Gandalf says during...

I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Then again, nobody needs to have the foresight of Galadriel to have caught wind of the latest round of rumors and speculation running rampant among "The Lord of the Rings" fans in recent weeks. While the obsessive fandom waits for more movies to arrive down the line, we at least have Prime Video's "The Rings of Power" series to keep us occupied in the meantime. But no matter how far removed we are from a first season that attracted all sorts of discourse in late 2022, from theories about the mysterious Stranger's identity to the guessing game surrounding the reveal of the Dark Lord Sauron, that hasn't stopped many from attempting to read the pipeweed anyway and make their best guess about which major figures from author J.R.R. Tolkien's lore might appear next.

In recent weeks Amazon has released a flurry of casting news for “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” season two. We have names of 15 actors who will join the Middle Earth cast: Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen ‘Zates’ Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Sam Hazeldine, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo, and Calam Lynch. But details about their roles are scarce.

The only specific character information that accompanied the casting updates was the shocking news that Hazeldine (“Peaky Blinders”) will be taking over the role of orc-daddy Adar from Joseph Mawle. With showrunner Patrick McKay previously teasing elder elf (and ring bearer) Cirdan the Shipwright arriving next season, that still leaves 13 new roles shrouded in mystery.

Given the plot trajectory of season one and a hefty knowledge of J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore, here are the five...

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" is caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, the new fantasy series comes with the built-in expectations and standards of everything that the brand name implies; after all, it is following in the footsteps of one of the most highly acclaimed and widely praised film trilogies of all time. On the other, its never-before-seen time period in Middle-earth and unique storytelling ambitions -- essentially, an origin story for the powerful rings depicted in the prologue of "The Fellowship of the Ring" and for the Dark Lord who secretly manipulated their creation -- has given the show an opportunity to set itself apart and forge its own identity altogether.

So how could the creative team possibly unite these two seemingly contradictory aims? It's easy, really.

By the end of the premiere episode, "The Rings of Power" introduced a...