Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for the first two episodes of The Rings of Power AheadThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has finally made its way to Prime Video following years of anticipation. The series is an epic drama set thousands of years before J.R.R Tolkien’s trilogies, following an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth.

Part of the ensemble cast in the series includes Daniel Weyman, who plays The Stranger. During the last moments of the premiere episode, a comet is seen crashing down on the planet, bringing a man inside it. The landing spot is near the Harfoots, and the character is discovered soon after he arrives in Middle-earth. During the second episode, The Stranger displays signs of other-worldly power as audiences piece together the origins of the mysterious character. Now, thanks to Deadline’s Hero Nation podcast, The Rings of Power executive producer Lindsey Weber is revealing their inspiration for The Stranger. She calls the character an outsider, saying, “he is a bit of an onion with many layers to peel.”

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Weber Hopes The Rings of Power Can Be an Entry Point Into Middle-earth

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Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy was an entry point for many fans who then delved further into Tolkien’s work. The Rings of Power executive producer Lindsey Weber hopes the same thing will happen for audiences who watch the Prime Video series. She tells Deadline it would be great if fans could watch The Rings of Power, then watch Jackson’s trilogies, or read Tolkien’s books.

“So Tolkien wrote a lot about the stars. The stars are very important in Middle-earth, and magic is very important in Middle-earth. And what shall I say here? The idea that this sort of miraculous event would occur in the Harfoot’s backyard was one of the sort of foundational ideas from the showrunners when I joined the project. And what I can say about this character is that he is a bit of an onion with many layers to peel. And I think it will be a fond journey for fans to peel as the season goes along.”

The Rings of Power should have something for every fantasy enthusiast, as we’ve already seen a wide breadth of characters spread across distant lands. If you’re die-hard for Tolkien lore, The Rings of Power may not be for you. However, if you’re looking to get back into the world of Middle-earth in an adventure set to span multiple seasons, tune into Prime Video every Thursday to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

“This is a story that you can appreaciate if you’ve not read the books, if you’ve not seen the movies, there is an on-ramp for you. This could be your first introduction to Middle-earth and we would be honored if it does become that for people, and it winds up turning people on to read the books - it would be a thrill for us.”