Prime Video is preparing for the future of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, with Season 4 production expected to begin in early 2027. This upcoming chapter could finally introduce the First Age's Dark Lord, Morgoth, through a series of flashbacks.

The early 2027 production window for Season 4

While an official greenlight for the fourth installment has not yet been issued, showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are reportedly preparing to begin filming in early 2027. According to the report, this timeline aligns with an original five-season roadmap established by Prime Video for the series, suggesting a level of narrative confidence that allows the production to plan years in advance.

This structured approach means the creative team can fully commit to the escalating stakes of the Second Age. By securing the trajectory for Season 4, the producers can ensure that the narrative threads woven into the earlier chapters lead logically toward the catastrophic events that define the island kingdom of Númenor.

Sauron's One Ring and the November 2026 premiere

Before the series reaches the events of the fourth season, Season 3 is scheduled to premiere in November 2026. This upcoming season will reportedly feature a significant time jump, focusing on the War of the Elves and Sauron . A central plot point will be the forging of the One Ring, which Sauron intends to use to dominate the Seven and Nine rings he previously created alongside Celebrimbor.

As the report says,the third season is likely to conclude with the capture of Sauron and his subsequent transport to Númenor. This transition is critical, as it shifts the conflict from the forests of Middle-earth to the political corridors of the Men of the West, setting the stage for the most ambitious psychological manipulation in the series.

The temple to Morgoth and the corruption of Númenor

Season 4 is expected to center on the downfall of Númenor, where Sauron will persuade the islanders to worship his former master, Morgoth. Because Morgoth remains imprisoned in the void and cannot physically return to Middle-earth, his presence will be felt through a cult of personality. Sauron will reportedly establish a temple in Númenor dedicated to Morgoth, claiming the Dark Lord sought to grant immortality to Men.

This strategic move allows Sauron to hide his own ambitions behind the legacy of a more powerful entity. By presenting himself as a humble servannt of Morgoth, Sauron can manipulate the Númenóreans' existing resentment toward the Elves and the Valar, turning a proud civilization into a vessel for darkness.

Bridging the gap to the First Age and the Valar

The potential introduction of Morgoth through flashbacks represents a major expansion of the show's scope. Morgoth was a Valar—a demi-god whose power vastly eclipsed that of Sauron. While The Rings of Power has previously hinted at this shadow, fully depicting the First Age would provide essential context for why the world of Middle-earth is so fractured.

This narrative move echoes the broader challenge of adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's vast legendarium, where the scale of power shifts dramatically between ages. By showing the relationship between the apprentice Sauron and the master Morgoth, Prime Video can elevate the stakes from a regional war to a cosmic struggle between creation and void.

The official greenlight for Season 4 and adaptation rights

Despite the detailed planning, several questions remain. Most notably, the report confirms that Season 4 has not yet received an official greenlight from Amazon, leaving a small window of uncertainty regarding the 2027 start date. Furthermore, it remains unclear how the showrunners will navigate the complex adaptation rights that have historically made First Age stories difficult to bring to the screen.

There is also the question of whether the series will rely solely on flashbacks to depict Morgoth or if they will find a more experimental way to visualize a character trapped in the void. Until Prime Video confirms the production schedule, these details remain speculative based on the series' established pacing.