The Rings of Power Season 3 finally tackles a top fan gripe — here’s how
Co-showrunner JD Payne says The Rings of Power Season 3 will shift focus to address a long-running fan gripe.
Here's a titbit that might perk up those of you who thought The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power had a bit too much Hobbit-before-the-Hobbits action. Season 3 looks set to quietly shuffle those Harfoots further from the spotlight—a move that, frankly, isn't likely to spark outrage outside Harfoot cosplay circles.
The Rings of Power Season 3 is set to premiere on Prime Video on 11 November 2026.
The Harfoots Step Aside
The word comes straight from co-showrunner JD Payne, who gave Empire Magazine a steer on the new direction. He made it crystal clear: the Harfoots will be taking “a little bit more of a backseat” this time round. There’s a bit of typical Tolkien hedging, though; Payne also added he wouldn’t totally count the little folk out just yet. If you follow every crumb of official news, it's not hard to picture them popping up again down the road, but for now, their days of trundling around with carts and self-righteous life lessons seem numbered.
Asked about the Harfoots' reduced visibility in Season 3, Payne said, 'It was time for them to take a little bit more of a backseat.' But he quickly added: 'I will also say: never count a Halfling out.'
Bit of background for the uninitiated or those who tuned out: in Season 2, the much-discussed Stranger was at last revealed to be the wizard Gandalf, which felt a bit inevitable. Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) then waved him off before toddling off on their own adventures, presumably with the Stoors. This rather tidy bow on the Harfoot subplot—at least for now—does help explain why they’ll be on the fringes in what comes next.
Not Exactly an Uproar
If you think fans will be heartbroken, temper your expectations. Feedback online’s not been subtle. The Harfoots have picked up a reputation as the series’ weakest nostalgia ploy—a sort of proto-Hobbit vibe that never really gelled. Across forums, people have criticised their inclusion as uninspired, bordering on immersion-breaking. To paraphrase the mood: plenty said their storyline dragged and took up far too much real estate. Or, as one Redditor put it, having fewer Harfoots on screen is basically a win.
For season 3, then, the Harfoots’ grand adventures may be put on ice. If anyone’s still pining for them, though, JD Payne says not to give up hope entirely. Just don’t expect them carrying the narrative load this time.