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Angel Shaw is a Lead Writer and Peer Mentor on ScreenRant's New TV team, covering new-release TV shows across all major streaming platforms. She has been a writer with ScreenRant since 2022 and specializes in Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and fantasy.
Angel holds a bachelor's degree in language interpreting and is passionate about all things culture and communication—especially in how it relates to popular media throughout history (from Shakespeare to Friends to Game of Thrones).
Stranger Things may have come to a close, but the show's villain can still serve a purpose for Prime Video's The Rings of Power. Both of these TV shows have been major undertakings for their respective platforms, though they haven't received quite the same level of viewer reception. Stranger Things season 5's ending is a bit divisive, but that's nothing compared to the long-running backlash The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has faced.
Defining the issues with Prime Video's Lord of the Rings TV show is complicated. The more valid criticisms of the series center on pacing, character development, and deviations from canon. The extreme backlash stems from The Rings of Power's racial diversity and the perceived desecration of Tolkien's works. Regardless, the objectively greatest issue that could lead to Rings of Power's cancellation is its monsterous budget. Viewership hasn't quite justified the show's cost. However, Stranger Things' Jamie Campbell Bower could help.
Jamie Campbell Bower's Rings Of Power Casting Can Boost Viewership
Jamie Campbell Bower rose to fame playing the villain Vecna in Stranger Things. Now that the series has officially come to a close, the actor's next undertaking is Prime Video's Rings of Power. He's essentially trading out one major franchise for another, so it's a great next step for Campbell Bower's career. Of course, given Stranger Things' popularity, it's an equally lucrative choice for Prime Video.
Rings of Power certainly features some great stars, but many of them have become household names because of the series itself. There are a few as familiar as Campbell Bower. Stranger Things is over, and his fans will be looking to see him again in a new project. This should mean that Rings of Power season 3 will have an increase in viewership. Even better, there's bound to be an uptick in streaming for the first two installments as new viewers who are transitioning fans of Campbell Bower catch up.
Jamie Campbell Bower's Rings Of Power Character Will Be An Intriguing Change
Though Campbell Bower himself is already enough of a draw for Rings of Power, his character makes this casting all the more intriguing. He's known for villainous roles, with Vecna being the most famous (and particularly evil). However, Campbell Bower will be playing a very different sort of character in Rings of Power.
The name of Campbell Bower's Rings of Power character has yet to be officially announced. However, we know that Prime Video has given this season 3 figure the code name "Arlen," and he's teased as being an Elvish high-born knight. This secrecy and description suggest that Campbell Bower could be Galadriel's canon husband, Celeborn. Whether or not this is true, it is safe to assume that this is a heroic character. It's a departure from what Campbell Bower is known for, but that only provides more reason for his fans to switch over to Rings of Power.
Release Date September 1, 2022
Network Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip
Directors J.A. Bayona, Sanaa Hamri
Writers Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams
English (US) ·