Prime Video has released a first look of Oscar-nominated Irish actor, Ciarán Hinds in his role as Dark Wizard for the second series of Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power.

The new character is described as “A dark and powerful wizard, whose origins and intentions are shrouded in secrecy, and who has a legion of magic-wielding acolytes who obey his every command — among them the three travelers who sought out the Stranger at the end of Season 1… on the Dark Wizard’s orders.”

Watch the trailer for the second series of Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power below:

Hinds is best known for his roles in the TV series Kin and the film Belfast, the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2022.

Bringing to screens the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth's history, Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth.

The first season attracted more than 25 million global viewers on its first day, marking the biggest premiere in the history of Prime Video, and has since been viewed by more than 100 million people worldwide.