There’s no telling how long The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will take to tell its story, though showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay have insisted that the series has a clear beginning and end. The duo has kept their plans close to the chest, teasing that some storylines won’t pay off until a projected fifth season — but will the show itself end with Season 5? Payne has alluded to plans for “a 50-hour show,” and with each season clocking in at just eight episodes, we could see this version of Middle-earth continuing beyond five seasons.
What’s more, The Rings of Power is all but guaranteed the freedom to finish its story on its own terms. A recent report from The Ankler revealed that the series is safe under the “magical halo” of Amazon MGM boss Jeff Bezos, and could be protected for its entire run. Whether that’ll be fewer or more than five seasons remains one of the most tantalizing mysteries surrounding the show, but with a newfound urgency to shorten the gap between seasons, it won’t take much longer for Payne and McKay’s vision to crystallize.
