A new trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power shows off young Galadriel and Elrond. The series, which is coming to Prime Video on September 2, 2022, is a prequel set thousands of years before the events of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on the legendary Tolkien fantasy novels of the same name. It will follow the major sweeping events of Middle-earth's Second Age, including the creation of the titular rings of power, which result in the rise of the dark power of Sauron. The show's massive ensemble cast includes Nazanin Boniadi, Peter Mullan, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charles Edwards, Alex Tarrant, Owain Arthur, Ema Horvath, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Charlie Vickers, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter star Benjamin Walker.

Two of the primary characters in the series will be the Elves Galadriel and Elrond, played by Morfydd Clark and Robert Aramayo. Because of the long lifespan of Elves, they are indeed the same characters who were seen in the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, played by Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving, though their personalities will prove to be quite different than their later selves. Elrond, in particular, will be a much more open and adventurous young person who eventually learns to be closed-off and distrustful, and while Galadriel still retains her signature, intimidating power, she will be less elegant and more of a warrior, as described in a 1973 letter by J.R.R. Tolkien himself.

Now, Prime Video releases a The Rings of Power teaser trailer that includes more footage of Galadriel and Elrond. Although the video they share on YouTube is only 15 seconds long, showing various characters from the show reacting to the arrival of a mysterious meteor, it is a tease for a longer video available only to Prime members. The exclusive video, which is about a minute long, includes fantastical clips of a flock of birds flitting past a dazzling ship, even more new characters, and the meteor crashing in the forest behind some young Ents. Check out the YouTube trailer below, and click the link to see the Prime exclusive teaser:


Other than showing off a majestic sight that Lord of the Rings fans have never seen before, this trailer seems to be teasing the inciting incident of the entire series. Although more and more details have been revealed about the characters as the show gets closer to release, this is the most concrete plot tease yet. Galadriel and Elrond don't say anything in the new footage, but this is also showing clearly what an important part they are going to play in the overall ensemble.

The The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power cast is so huge that it's unlikely to focus on any single character for too long in any particular episode. However, given the fact that Galadriel and Elrond will be the characters who mainstream fans will most be able to cling to as recognizable figures in a swath of new material, they will certainly be given pride of place. It will certainly be interesting to see the way their young personalities fit into the peaceful Middle-earth at the beginning of the series and how the events that follow will shape them into the characters they grow into.