Game Of Thrones Actor Drops Out Of LOTR: Rings Of Power, Role Recast
Sam Hazeldine is taking over for Joseph Mawle as the orc leader Adar in Season 2.
Amazon Studios has announced seven new cast members for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2, including someone new who is playing the orc leader Adar after a recast.
Joseph Mawle (Game of Thrones' Benjen Stark) played Adar in The Rings of Power Season 1, but he's dropping out for Season 2. Sam Hazeldine (Peaky Blinders) is coming in to play Adar for the next season. Amazon did not provide any explanation as to why Mawle is leaving The Rings of Power.
Mawle himself commented on the news on Twitter. He said he feels honored that people liked his performance as Adar. But he's leaving Rings of Power because he feels it is his duty to "explore new characters and worlds."
"Wishing all the best to the cast and crew for S2. I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines," Mawle said.
I loved my time exploring middle earth and diving into Tolkien’s mythology. I’m so honoured that the character was liked. He cared deeply about telling you his story. Though as an actor it remains my wish, my job description to explore new characters and worlds. Wishing all the
— Joseph Mawle (@realjosephmawle) December 1, 2022
Best to cast and crew for S2, I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines X
— Joseph Mawle (@realjosephmawle) December 1, 2022
New cast members for Season 2, which is now filming in the UK, include Gabriel Akuwudike, Yasen "Zates" Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, and Nicholas Woodeson.
"We welcome these wonderful actors to our 'fellowship' and look forward to telling more incredible Second Age stories in season two," Amazon Studios boss Vernon Sanders said in a release.
The Rings of Power debuted in September and reached 100 million people globally, Amazon said. The creative team has five seasons mapped out, including the very last shot.
As mentioned, filming is underway on The Rings of Power Season 2, but Amazon has not announced a release date or plot details for the next season. Season 1 ended with a major revelation about a particular character, and Season 2 will dig into this, but beyond that, the plot is a mystery.
Season 2 is filming in the UK, which is a big departure from Season 1 that was shot in New Zealand, where Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies were produced.
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