Simon Pegg to Play the Balrog in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'

During the panel for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power at San Diego Comic-Con this Friday (24), the audience was surprised by the announcement that Simon Pegg (Star Trek, Shaun of the Dead) has joined the cast of the Prime Video series. The big surprise is that the British actor will play none other than the Balrog, the fire monster that dwells in the depths.

Omelete was at the panel, and according to the information revealed, Sauron will need the fire of Mount Doom to forge the One Ring and, because of that, he will have to find the Balrog, who will have dialogue lines in the series, and face a creature with powers equal to his own, a challenge he has not yet faced. 

Everything you need to know about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will make a major time jump from the second season — check out the official synopsis: "Set many years after the events of season two, season three takes place at the height of the war between the elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to forge the One Ring, which will give him the edge he needs to win the war and conquer Middle-earth".

Within the mythology created by J.R.R. Tolkien, the war of the elves against Sauron took place during the Second Age of Middle-earth, and it was the first great battle against the villain, played in The Rings of Power by Charlie Vickers. It is a battle that takes place before the confrontation seen in the prologue of The Lord of the Rings films.

In addition to Vickers, returning for the third season are also Morfydd Clark (Galadriel), Robert Aramayo (Elrond), Ismael Cruz Córdova (Arondir), Owain Arthur (Durin), Daniel Weyman (Gandalf), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Miriel), Trystan Gravelle (Pharazon), and more. New additions to the cast include Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things) and Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan), in roles that have not yet been disclosed.

Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay, who have led the series since season one, remain in charge of The Rings of Power. Episodes in the third season will be directed by names such as Charlotte Brändström (Shōgun), Sanaa Hamri (The Wheel of Time), and Stefan Schwartz (The Boys).

Season three premieres on November 11, 2026.