Summary
A classicLord of the Ringsmonster will be coming toThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 and I’m prepared to be scared.Screen RantattendedThe Rings of Power’spanel atSan Diego Comic-Conand bore witness to Amazon Prime Video’s new trailer for the series, plus extended discussion from cast and crew. Through the updates,the appearance of a terrifying Tolkien beast was confirmedforThe Rings of Powerseason 2. I’m not proud to say that I’ll be watching season 2 through my fingers.
The SDCC panel expanded onSauron’s overarching planin season 2 and how he will manipulate others into helping him rise to power. The encroaching darkness will see the resurgence of numerous creatures with evil will, some familiar from author J.R.R. Tolkien’s books and some original to the show. The show faced criticism in the past for its original content and diversion from Tolkien’s lore. I enjoyed the original storylines, which will continue, but I’m also overjoyed thatthe series will bring some traditional Tolkien evil to the small screen for season 2.
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Shelob Is Returning In The Rings Of Power Season 2: How She Fits Into The Story
Shelob Will Be Pursuing Season 2’s Protagonists
Crawling out of the murk in Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings, near the end ofThe Two Towers, came Shelob, a beastie that terrified me in Peter Jackson’s movie and will terrify audiences inThe Rings of Powerseason 2.This monster inspired countless other fantasy writersto add a dose of arachnophobia to their fantasy worlds, and for good reason. Fast-moving arachnids inspire the primal fear of helplessness. Though they may be tiny and meters away, it always somehow seems like spiders could be on you within seconds.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 will premiere on July 24, 2025.
Reading the books, I felt a sense of awe and delight beholding the uninhibited creativity of the fantasy monsters. However, watching movies, I had all the grit of a five-year-old on their first day at school. Peter Jackson didn’t debut Shelob untilThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and I jumped out of my seat during her cameo. As one ofThe Rings of Powerseason 2 monsterspreying on the heroes,Shelob will be bringing this fear factor to the show.She is seen in the trailer attacking Isildur.
Shelob Is Younger In Rings Of Power Than the Movies
Shelob is younger inThe Rings of Powerthan she is inThe Lord of the Ringsmovies and book, so she is not quite the titan of the movies, but will still serve chills.The Rings of Poweradapts material concerningthe Second Age of Middle-earth, set centuries before the events of the Third Age that were explored inThe Lord of the Rings. Being centuries younger, the Shelob seen in the newSan Diego Comic-ContrailerforThe Rings of Powerseason 2 is smaller than Peter Jackson’s spider but has enough heft to take on Isildur.
Peter Jackson’s movies slotted into the action and adventure genres, with moments of horror providing shock value - Shelob was the queen of these. The panel at SDCC alluded toThe Rings of Powerseason 2 taking on elements of the horror and psychological thriller genres, and I’m sureShelob will be a peak momentthere. I love horror precisely because of the adrenaline value, so I’m looking forward to the revving up of dark forces in season 2.
How Old Is Shelob In Lord Of The Rings If She’s In The Rings Of Power?
Shelob Is Still Ancient
Although smaller and younger than the Third Age Shelob ofLord of the Rings,Rings of Power’sShelob is still an ancient beast. The daughter of an even older monster,Shelob has lurked in the darkest corners of Middle-earth since the First Age, making her thousands of years old. As what is sure to be one ofRings of Power’sbest monsters, Shelob will be a mysterious and primeval force to be reckoned with. We can’t decipher Shelob’s age fromThe Lord of the Ringsbooks alone, butThe Silmarillionspeaks to her origins.
The Silmarilliontells the story of Shelob’s mother, Ungoliant, who helped Morgoth in some of his first cruel acts towards Arda and its inhabitants.
Perhaps my favorite Tolkien book,The Silmarillionhas been a significant information and inspiration source forThe Rings of Power, even though the show doesn’t have the rights to adapt it all.The Silmarilliontells the story of Shelob’s mother, Ungoliant, who helped Morgoth in some of his first cruel acts towards Arda and its inhabitants.Shelob was born at an unknown time during Ungoliant’s stay on Middle-earth, so she could be roughly between 6000 and 7000 years old. The exact time Ungoliant entered Middle-earth is uncertain, and she was not confirmed to have died either.
J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Silmarillionprovided insight into Ungoliant and her offspring, including Shelob. It was published posthumously in 1977.
However,The Silmarilliondid mention that she may have died towards the end of the First Age. This explains the range of Shelob’s possible age.The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’strailerfrom SDCC shows a Shelob that is already formidable, although only halfway to the villain we know from the books and movies. Since I know from lore that Isildur has a future inThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, I’m confident he’ll escape Shelob - but that won’t stop my skin from crawling when she enters the scene.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
